Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The 2026 edition, themed “Voyages Through Chokepoints: Power, Passage and Lives at Sea,” will bring together maritime professionals, academics, writers and young storytellers for three days of creative storytelling, mentorship, industry engagement and experiential learning.
According to the Convener and Project Coordinator, Ezinne Azunna, the programme officially opens today, Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with an opening ceremony at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, at 9:00 a.m.
Azunna said this year’s bootcamp would explore the complexities of global maritime routes, strategic chokepoints and trade corridors, while placing the human experiences behind ocean transportation at the centre of the storytelling process.
She disclosed that 50 participants were selected after submitting original short stories of between 4,000 and 5,000 words, based on a voyage to or from any Nigerian port through a global maritime chokepoint or major sea trade route.
The selected stories are expected to explore themes including coastal communities, maritime culture, seafarers’ experiences, maritime adventure, international trade, ocean heritage and the historical evolution of the maritime industry, while demonstrating strong conflict and resolution.
The distinguished faculty and speakers include Prof. Adegbite Tobalase, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Adeleke University and Head of Faculty, Maritime Writes Project; Mrs. Nneka Obianyor, Director, Reforms Coordination & Blue Economy and former Registrar of Ships, NIMASA; Capt. Marvin Omovbude, Harbour Master, Lagos Pilotage District, Nigerian Ports Authority; and veteran journalist and former Deputy Editor of ThisDay newspaper, Mr. Oji Onoko.
Others are Dr. Akanbi Williams, Director, International Ocean Institute-Nigeria; Madam Ifeoma Nwagbogu, maritime expert and linguist; Madam Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike, Director-General, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping; and Capt. Oluwasegun Akanbi, Master Mariner and President, MAPROD.
The opening ceremony will be chaired by Mr. Debo Lawal, Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex, Nigerian Ports Authority.
Beyond the writing sessions, the three-day bootcamp will feature intensive writing masterclasses, mentorship sessions and interactions with maritime industry professionals, alongside experiential activities designed to give participants a deeper understanding of the realities of the sector.
A major attraction will be a guided tour of the Nigerian Navy’s Naval Dockyard in Victoria Island, Lagos, offering participants first-hand exposure to one of the country’s key maritime and naval facilities.
The bootcamp is organised under two categories: Maritime Writes Junior, for children aged 6 to 13, and Maritime Writes Senior, for participants aged 14 to 60.
Azunna said successful participants would receive certificates, while 10 outstanding stories would be selected for publication in the Maritime Writes Anthology.
She noted that the publication would provide emerging writers with an opportunity to reach a wider audience while contributing to the development of Nigeria’s maritime literary culture.
The Maritime Writes Project has positioned the annual bootcamp as a platform for harnessing the power of creative writing to deepen public understanding of maritime issues, nurture emerging literary talent and strengthen the connection between storytelling and Nigeria’s maritime industry.