At a Lagos event today, the 2022 Nigeria Prize for Literature entries were formally presented to the judging panel by Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chair of the Prize’s Advisory Board. Sponsored by Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG), this prestigious award rotates through literary genres yearly. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe secured last year’s fiction prize with her novel “The Son of the House.”
This year, the spotlight falls on poetry, with a staggering 287 poets competing for the coveted $100,000 prize, the continent’s most esteemed literary honor. Additionally, 87 entries were submitted for the NLNG’s Prize for Literary Criticism, a sub-genre of the main award.
Leading the judging panel is Professor Sule Egya, a luminary in African Literature and Cultural Studies, known by his pen name E. E. Sule. Alongside him are Tóyìn Adéwálé-Gabriel, a renowned poet and literary critic, and Dike Chukwumerije, an award-winning Spoken Word artist and author.
In a bid for inclusivity and diversity, two judges outside academia were appointed this year, chosen for their significant contributions to the literary world. NLNG’s General Manager, Mr. Andy Odeh, highlighted the launch of the official website, www.thenigeriaprizes.org, aimed at providing comprehensive information about the prizes to the public.
Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo urged the judges to elevate literature as a catalyst for national development. With poetry in focus this year, the Nigeria Prize for Literature continues to celebrate and reward outstanding literary achievements, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing Nigeria’s rich literary landscape.
