…MWP writers to curate literature on marine tourism, shipping, others
Despite Nigeria’s over 850 km coastline, the nation is ranked among the lowest maritime nations on marine tourism index, according to the International Ocean Institute (IOI).
The Director of IOI Nigeria, Mr. Akanbi Williams disclosed this while speaking at the 4th edition of Maritime Writes Project (MWP) bootcamp in Lagos, over the weekend.
At the event themed: “Protecting Heritages in the Blue Economy”, Williams noted that Nigeria features among the bottom 3 countries on marine tourism index and encouraged MWP 2024 participants to write stories around maritime tourism and deep sea exploration to correct the anomaly.
His words: “At IOI, we have developed a curriculum for ocean literacy to address the problem of sea blindness. Coastal areas and organisms need to be studied as well as the deep sea.”
“It is unfortunate that Nigeria isn’t exploiting its potentials in tourism. The nation has some problems which affect its ability to fully explore marine tourism. These include; maritime security and cultural attitudes. If an environment isn’t secured, if it’s not clean and habitable; there will be no attraction for tourists.”
Williams, however, expressed optimism that with the creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry in Nigeria, maritime tourism will be a huge component and the ministry will help in the development of this aspect in conjunction with the security agencies.
“If Nigerians know about the maritime sector in elementary and primary schools, that will better position the nation to harness the multiple opportunities in the sector.”
“Most of the 2024 participants are young minds and they have an opportunity to get the correct information about maritime could help them decide to have a future in the industry,” he remarked.
Also speaking, the President of African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network (AWFISHNET) Nigerian chapter, Mrs. Funmi Shelika described MWP 2024 as a laudable event that opens the minds of participants to understand the diverse aspects of the blue economy.
“Participants have learnt so much to help them conceptualize stories that will further promote awareness of the blue economy. The historical stories of the maritime industry and how it affects our daily activities have been explained by experts in this bootcamp,” she stated.
Shelika asserted that there is a future in fish processing, adding that, “it isn’t just a smelling-woman selling fish at the market. The business is more than catching the fish, smoking and selling it. There are other aspects of the trade for participants to explore.”
She equally lamented a decline in fishes across several Nigerian riverine communities resulting from pollution and overfishing. Therefore, she encouraged the Nigerian government to do better to support artisanal fishers and grow small-scale fishing.
“Nigeria isn’t enacting policies and laws for people in coastal communities to enjoy the aquatic assets in their communities. There should be an agreement between the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the communities to preserve the aquatic life and the marine environment,” she argued.
Earlier, the Head of Faculty/ Director Business Education Services & Training, LCCI, Dr. Talwo Nolas-Alausa, noted that several participants in previous MWP bootcamps have been able to publish books and win international essay competitions after the learning experience.
Nolas-Alausa admonished the participants to fully exploit the training to improve themselves as writers, while also encouraging them to network and open their minds to possible maritime career opportunities and businesses.
Some of the facilitators at the 2-day event include; the Head, Creative Writing Revew & Editing Panel/ Dean, Faculty of Arts, Adeleke University, Ede, Prof Adegbite Tobalase; Associate Director, Global Operations & Industry Engagement, Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN), Vivek Menon; President, Female Seafarers Association of Nigeria (FESAN), Mrs. Koni Duniya; Head, Depertment of General Studies, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic/ Vice Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors, Ogun State, Dr.Lucky Aikabeli; Clinical Psychologist, University of Texas, Ifeoma Ifechelobi-McGuire, CNN/BBC Featured Visual Artist, Ekene Ngige as well as Yewande Obayelu, an Environmental Specialist & Advocate for Sustainable Practices with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency -NOSDRA.
The Maritime Writes Project is a not-for-profit organisation that holds Creative Writing workshops annually to guide children, youths and women of all ages, within and around littoral communities in Nigeria and Africa, to author fiction that is hinged on the Blue Economy. The project debuted in 2021 with 21 participants making it to its very first Creative Writing boot camp after scaling through an entry selection stage.