…five best writing projects to get published free of charge, organisers say

Bonny Island, which is regarded as the heart of the Nigerian maritime topography and blue economy, is upbeat as maritime writers converge there for the 3rd Maritime Writes Creative Writing Bootcamp in Bonny, Rivers State.

To shore up the excitement, some maritime bigwigs such as the Port Manager, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Onne, Stanley Yitnoe; his NPA Calabar Port counterpart, Festus Olumati; and Director General, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike; will be among other top maritime personalities to lead training sessions at the event.

A statement by the Project Coordinator/Convener of the Maritime Writes Project (MWP), organizers of the Bootcamp, Ezinne Azunna, exclusively made available to Kristina Reports, disclosed that it is billed for Friday and Saturday, August 25 and 26, 2023 at the Women’s Hall, opposite Bonny Library, along King William Dappa Pepple Road, Bonny.

She informed that MWP hopes to train at least 50 participants at the event where the Director, Business Relations and Training, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Head of Faculty, the Maritime Writes Project, Dr. Taiwo Nolas-Alausa; Dean of Faculty of Arts, Adeleke University and Head, Creative Writing Review and Editing Panel, Professor Adegbite Tobalase; renowned Clinical Psychologist, University of Texas, Ifeoma Ifechelobi; among others are also slated as speakers at the event.

Promising that the training will be a notch higher than the just concluded Lagos edition which had raving reviews from participants, the event’s organiser said the event will be the maiden outing of the Creative Writing Bootcamp in Bonny even though this year marks the third edition of MWP.

“We are grateful for the Faculty and for industry mentors who have committed to this project. Nigeria/ Africa has untold and undocumented stories of the Maritime/Marine sector that would beat your imagination. Fiction on the Blue Economy is sparse and as a result the consciousness of the happenings and impact of the marine world on us is barely known.

“The marine influences people, our decisions, our language/diction, our vocation/trade, our culture etc. Bonny as a littoral community has such a rich maritime history and even in contemporary times, the events of the community should be documented. The people can also author stories that are foretelling, showing us the Bonny they long for.”

“It is on us to tell our stories and preserve our culture for generations unborn, the youths and people of Bonny have an opportunity here to acquire a life-long skill, own their stories and document it undistorted.

“Besides that, we could actually influence the interest of anyone who reads any marine fiction to choose vocations in the sector and perhaps invest it. We can promote tourism, so the ripple effect of the Maritime Writes Project Creative Writing Bootcamp on the Bonny community is unending.

“Ours here will be to equip participants with the requisite skills and that we will do free of charge, thanks to our collaborators. At the end of the training which is themed MARITIME HERITAGES, participants will write their short stories, closely supervised by the Faculty, that is the practical part of what they will be learning.

“The Maritime Writes Project will publish the best 15 works from the three 2023 centres where this programme held or will hold (Lagos, Osun, Bonny) in an anthology.”

The Project Coordinator, who stated that the Bonny outing will also include visits to maritime heritages in the coastal community, including the Bonny Lighthouse, further informed that applicants are expected to register by Monday, August 21, 2023 using https://forms.gle/vpriWeQzJnoWT5dBA.

Information available to Kristina Reports has it that the Maritime Writes Project is a Creative Writing programme that trains and guides children, youths, men and women within Nigeria to author fiction that are set within maritime communities/industry and convey themes from the sector.

An initiative by Media Traction, owners of Maritime TV Africa, this project debuted in 2021 with 21 participants making it to a four-day creative writing boot camp.

One of the participants at the just concluded Lagos 2023 Maritime Writes Project Creative Writing Bootcamp, Murtadho Murtadho narrates his experience: “I’m truly grateful to the Maritime Writes Project organisers for their unwavering dedication in creating a transformative boot camp”.

“Your impactful efforts have ignited a passion for maritime writing within me, and I commend your commitment to empowering individuals to shape society through their words. Your tireless work is evident in the positive impact you’ve made, and I’m excited to continue this journey of growth and contribution. Thank you for the valuable opportunity to learn and grow while making a meaningful difference.”