By Cyril Ehis
The Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Literature has announced the final shortlist for the 2026 edition.
Poets James Ngwu Eze, Ogaga Ifowodo, and Tares Oburumu are now in contention for the $100,000 prize.
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The authors were selected from a longlist of 11, which itself was drawn from 223 entries submitted earlier this year.
According to the Advisory Board, “James Ngwu Eze, in Unbind Me Now, uses language that is fluid and aesthetically captivating.
This collection decries the sociopolitical dysfunction of the nation and the world at large, interrogating the human condition and charting a path for redemption.
Ogaga Ifowodo, in Why Does God Need A Gun?, depicts religious and political violence in Nigeria, couched in a rich allegorical style.
Delivered through a tripartite structure of body, mind, and spirit, Ifowodo interrogates the forces that define the world’s challenging ethos.
Tares Oburumu’s Flora’s Love Colony is written in a densely poetic style, engaging Nigeria’s troubled history. It challenges mainstream narratives and presents a socio-historical reflection captured in lucid imagery and evocative language.”
The shortlist marks the culmination of an intensive judging process that examined language, form, originality, craftsmanship, and overall literary value.
Commenting on the selection, Chairperson of the Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, said the shortlist reflects the depth and quality of contemporary Nigerian poetry, noting that selecting three works from 223 submissions was a demanding task for the judges.
She added that the shortlisted works stood out for their literary excellence, originality, and ability to engage readers and contemporary realities.
The 2026 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature is dedicated to poetry, continuing its annual rotation among four genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature.
Now in its 22nd year, the prize is sponsored by NLNG as part of its commitment to recognising literary excellence, encouraging creativity, and contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s literary culture.
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As the competition enters its final stage, the question is no longer who made the cut, but who will ultimately claim the prize. Three voices remain.
