Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and Female Seafarers Association of Nigeria (FESAN) have tipped Maritime Writes Project (MWP) initiative to address the decline of seafarers and maritime workers in the nation.
Both organisations made this submission at the just-concluded 2-day MWP 2024 bootcamp in Lagos themed: "Protecting Heritages in the Blue Economy."
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 bootcamp after scaling through an entry selection stage.
Speaking at the MWP bootcamp, the President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju delivered a presentation on, 'The Struggle and Strides of The Union in Nigeria's Blue Economy."
Adeyanju, who was represented by the Union's Deputy Secretary General, Comrade Oniha Erazua, stressed that there has been a decline in number of people developing careers in the maritime sector globally, especially in seafaring.
His words: "There is a decline in seafarers, dockworkers, among other aspects of maritime. This is beautiful catch-them-young initiative is bound to stimulate interest in the sector. As someone who has spent several years in the sector, I can confidently say that a career in shipping and other aspects of maritime will be gratifying."
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Also speaking, the President of FESAN, Koni Duniya, represented by Dise Koni Duniya, represented by a Marine Engineer, Dise Youdeowey, posited that the shipping industry holds numerous rewarding opportunities for participants, especially women.
While disclosing that only 2% of the global seafaring workforce are women, Dise emphasized the need for equity and balance in the industry even as she inspired the participants with the profiles of several successful Nigerian female seafarers.
On his part, the Associate Director, Global Operations & Industry Engagement, Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN), Vivek Menon, stresses the need for attitudal change in the Nigerian maritime industry, specifically to curb corruption.
On her part, the Convener/ Project Coordinator, MWP Bootcamp, Ezinne Azunna, observed that the MWP is set to release 3 volumes of compendiums of short stories written by participants in the first three editions of the bootcamp.
