The 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature is heating up as submissions close. Judges now begin the search for the next big literary star
By Akintayo Abodunrin
With the closure of entry submissions on Wednesday, 2 April, the race for the 2025 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature has truly begun.
Nigeria’s most prestigious literary prize, inaugurated in 2004 by Nigeria LNG, offers a cash reward of $100,000. It rotates annually between prose fiction, drama, children’s literature, and poetry.
Nigeria LNG established the prize to “spur creativity and contribute to the improvement of the quality of writing, editing, and publishing,” recognising the decline in emerging literary stars despite Nigeria’s legacy of master prose stylists such as Professors Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Cyprian Ekwensi, and Ben Okri.
Observing that subpar works outnumbered quality ones despite an explosion in prose writers, the company introduced the prize to “improve the quality of writing, editing, proofreading, and publishing in the country with far-reaching positive effects on print, broadcast journalism, film, and theatre production.”
This year’s edition, chaired by Dr Saeedat Bola Aliyu alongside Professor Mbaneto Ogene, Olakunle Kasumu, and Dr Grace Musila, focuses on prose fiction. The last winner in this category was Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia, who won in 2021 with The Son of the House. Other past winners include Kaine Agari (Yellow Yellow, 2008), Chika Unigwe (On Black Sisters’ Street, 2012), and Abubakar A. Ibrahim (Season of Crimson Blossoms, 2016).
“Prose literature is a mirror reflecting our society. Through storytelling, we find ways to understand our collective experiences and envision a better future.”
Prose remains a strong genre for Nigerian writers and consistently attracts significant interest. Chair of the Advisory Board, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, expressed high expectations for 2025:
“Prose literature is a mirror reflecting our society. Through storytelling, we find ways to understand our collective experiences and envision a better future. This year’s competition promises to bring stories that resonate deeply with local and global audiences.”
With submissions now closed, the Advisory Board, comprising Professors Ahmed Yerima, Olu Obafemi, and Adimora-Ezeigbo, will hand the entries to the judges for assessment. A winner (or none) will emerge in October.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature is one of the top 10 literary prizes globally in terms of cash rewards, making it highly sought after. While the financial incentive is significant, many writers value the prestige of making the longlist or shortlist. The prize has revitalised writing in Nigeria, inspiring both budding and established authors.
Obianuju Chukwuorji, whose Delusions of the Patriots made the 2021 longlist, remarked:
“The Nigeria Prize for Literature has done so much not only in energising and inspiring budding writers but also in enhancing the reading culture in Nigeria. The publicity given to longlisted and winning books provides authors with a larger audience than their publishing houses and social media would. Despite challenges like book piracy and declining readership, NLNG’s sponsorship of this prize continues to encourage writers and readers alike.”
Similarly, Anaele Ihuoma, author of Imminent River, longlisted in 2021, noted:
“It’s not just about the official winners; everyone striving to improve their craft is already a winner. Many professionals—engineers, lawyers, and medics—have transitioned from writing as a hobby to becoming mainstream authors. The Nigeria Prize for Literature has played a major role in this trend.”
Unsurprisingly, the competition has recorded nearly 3,000 entries in its 21-year history. It remains the hottest prize in Nigeria’s literary landscape—unless another corporation challenges Nigeria LNG with a bigger prize.
For now, literature lovers can anticipate an exciting journey as judges sift through the entries, unveiling the longlist and shortlist in the coming months. With fresh talent rising in the prose scene, this year’s competition promises to be a thrilling ride. Get ready—this one’s going to be lit!
