A total of 20 female participants are to feature in the inaugural creative writing workshop of the Maritime Writers Training Academy beginning from June 19, the Project Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, Media Traction, Mrs Ezinne Azunna, has announced.
Azunna, who made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos, on Friday, confirmed that the academy had received 22 entries from female members of the public, aged 15 and above, for the workshop that would run from 19 to June 27.
She added that the training would be opened to the participants selected by the Faculty and would run only on weekends.
The faculty, which include Ms Ifeoma Ifechelobi, a US based Clinical psychologist, would be headed by Dr Taiwo Nolas-Alausa, a training and development consultant of over 18 years, who specialises in creative and business communications, she said.
Similarly, Dr Adegbite Tobalase, Head of Department, Languages & Literary Studies, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun state, she added, would head the creative writing review and editing panel for potential publishable works.
“We have selected 20 participants, among whom are five Senior Secondary School female students, who did well at the National Maritime Quiz and Symposium organised by Ocean Ambassadors Foundation.
“We have schools that enrolled their students and individuals too.
“The goal is to empower these girls with creative writing skills and encourage them to author children’s storybooks with maritime themes. That is the way to keep the younger generation informed and interested in what the maritime industry does.
“We are grateful that we have a team of experts and consultants, who have accepted our request to make up the faculty and other guest lecturers, who are publishers, illustrators and captains of industry.
“The curriculum is quite robust, the head of faculty has assured us and our hope is that the academy will give the participants what it takes to be accomplished authors”, Azunna said.
The coordinator added: “The interesting thing is that the project has gotten lots of commendation, but not much financial support. We are encouraged by the contributions, no matter how little; we know that it can only get better.
“We hope that this annual exercise will grow the quantity and quality of maritime stories on the bookshelves, while empowering females.”
She urged the participants to check their emails for confirmation of their selection for the workshop before June 19.
