Integrate Maritime Education In Schools, Expert Urges FG

An expert in Maritime Write Project, Mrs Ezinne Azunna, has urged Federal Government to incorporate maritime education in school curriculum to enable the country become a leading maritime nation.
The Azunna Project Coordinator/Convener, Maritime Writes Project, made the appeal recently at the third edition of The Maritime Writes Project, a training bootcamp held in Lagos.
According to her, if maritime education is infused into the country’s curriculum, “it means we are owning our maritime space, and this will enable us do things differently.
“For a while, Nigeria has been trying to get into the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) seat, and also tried to manage its resources as a maritime nation. The people who manage better are the ones that know and are familiar with the terrain.
“So, if we are calling for the industry to be harnessed, then we must also avail training to the people, and that is what we are doing here. That is why we must own our maritime space.
“In the comity of maritime nations, the only people that have made it are those that own their maritime space, so, we cannot begin to play lip service to it. The only way not to play lip service is to introduce it in our curriculum.
“Aquaculture has been introduced in Lagos State, but what of other places”, she said.
Azunna noted that the maritime industry largely contribute a whole lot to the economy, adding that it was time for government to pay more attention to the industry.
She said the industry had over 100 professions that should be harnessed to boost youth empowerment and employment creation.
Azunna said the bootcamp was instituted to help capture maritime heritage for economic growth and development.
She said the project, a three phase competition, started with an essay entry, noting that 90 entries came from Lagos, which was trimmed down to 56.
“Why is it that the ordeal of females on ships 50/40 years ago is nowhere documented?
“So, coming into the industry, I have a background in literature and I ask myself where is the maritime literature to read.
“If we want our young people to come into the industry, why is it that when one picks up a book, the first exposure is to the medical, accountant world and none about the ship or life of a diver”, she asked.
Also Speaking, Head of Faculty, Maritime Writes Project, Dr Taiwo Nolas-Alausa, said the initiative had been focused on promoting the maritime sector by highlighting how it had enhanced the nation’s economy
Nolas-Alausa narrated the success story of a beneficiary of the Maritime Writes Project, Uchenna Ohiaeri, who recently won African Leadership Scholarship.
“I’m excited by the progress we have made over the years. Recently, we had the remarkable story of one of our trainees, Uche Ohiaeri, who won a scholarship of African Leadership in South Africa.

By: Chinedu Wosu