The Nigeria Prize for Literature has shattered previous records, receiving an unprecedented 252 entries for its 2025 edition, according to Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), the prize sponsor.
Announced at the Handover of Entries Ceremony held Tuesday in Lagos, this marks the highest number of submissions since the prize’s inception in 2004, surpassing 2024’s 163 entries and the previous Prose Fiction high of 202 in 2021.
The $100,000 award, rotating annually across Prose Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Children’s Literature, is considered Africa’s most prestigious literary honour. This year’s edition, focusing on Prose Fiction, has drawn an outpouring of submissions from writers across Nigeria, reflecting what organisers describe as a “surge in literary creativity.”
Representing NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, Manager of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, handed over the entries to the Advisory Board, chaired by renowned scholar and past winner, Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo. The entries were subsequently presented to the panel of judges, signaling the start of what may be the most competitive adjudication in the history of the Prize.
“This year’s record entries reaffirm the Prize’s impact, proving that Nigerian literature is not only thriving but also commanding greater international recognition,” Horsfall said.
She added that the rise in submissions was a testament to both a growing passion for storytelling and a renewed global interest in Nigerian literary voices. “Our commitment to advancing excellence in literature aligns with NLNG’s broader goal of improving lives sustainably,” she noted.
Chair of the Advisory Board, Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo, expressed optimism about the quality of submissions, saying, “The diversity and depth of literary works submitted will make the adjudication process more compelling, while reaffirming the Prize’s unwavering commitment to literary excellence.”
She urged the panel to uphold the highest standards of integrity and objectivity throughout the judging process.
In addition to the main literature prize, the Advisory Board revealed that 37 entries were received for The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism, with a $10,000 reward for the winner.
This year’s judging panel is chaired by Prof. Saeedat Bolajoko Aliyu (Kwara State University), with members including Prof. Mbanefo Ogene (Nnamdi Azikiwe University), and Mr. Olakunle Kasumu, filmmaker and host of Channels TV’s Book Club. South Africa’s Dr. Grace Musila of the University of the Witwatersrand serves as International Consultant.
Past winners in the Prose Fiction category include Kaine Agary (Yellow Yellow, 2008), Chika Unigwe (On Black Sisters’ Street, 2012), Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (Season of Crimson Blossoms, 2016), and Professor Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia (The Son of the House, 2020/21).
The 2025 winner—if one is selected—will be announced at an award ceremony scheduled for October.
Now in its 21st year, the Nigeria Prize for Literature continues to serve as a beacon for Nigerian writers and a catalyst for the nation’s cultural and intellectual growth.
