Writers urged to promote inclusive maritime sector

Young writers attending the 6th Annual Maritime Writes Project Creative Writing Bootcamp in Lagos have been challenged to champion Nigeria's maritime sector as an inclusive industry. Port Manager of the Lagos Ports Complex, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Debo Lawal, urged participants to leverage their writing talents to showcase the increasing presence of women in traditionally male-dominated maritime roles.

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The growing presence of women in operational and technical positions demonstrates that the maritime sector offers opportunities for women and should be portrayed as an inclusive industry.

Lawal noted that over ten women operate cranes at the Lagos port, with female tugboat pilots and many others holding various positions. "The growing presence of women in operational and technical positions demonstrates that the maritime sector offers opportunities for women and should be portrayed as an inclusive industry," he stated. The bootcamp, themed ‘Voyages Through Chokepoints: Power, Passage and Life at Sea,’ gathered aspiring writers, maritime experts, academics, and mentors.

Professor Adegbite Tobalase, Head of Faculty for the bootcamp, encouraged participants to hone their individual voices and understand the discipline required for original work. He described the event as a mission to cultivate literary talent through maritime storytelling and deepen Nigeria's maritime consciousness. Director at the International Ocean Institute-Nigeria Centre, Mr. Akanbi Williams, praised the initiative for combining creative writing with practical exposure to the maritime sector. He advised participants to "observe, listen, question, learn and write," emphasizing the importance of looking beyond the physical aspects of the industry to the connected people and livelihoods.

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We welcome you not merely to a training programme, but to a mission: to grow literary talent through maritime storytelling, and to deepen Nigeria’s maritime consciousness through the power of the written word.

Project Coordinator Ezinne Azunna explained that the initiative bridges creative writing and maritime awareness by immersing young writers in the sector's realities. Participants will interact with professionals, facilities, and communities, enabling them to craft stories based on authentic industry experiences. The goal is to foster greater understanding of the sector and the blue economy through compelling storytelling.

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observe, listen, question, learn and write