Call for Entry. NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature 2022

Nigeria LNG Limited is the proud sponsor of one of the biggest and most prestigious prizes in Africa for literature. The Nigeria Prize for Literature is aimed at bringing Nigerian authors to public attention and celebrating literary craftsmanship in the nation. The Nigeria Prize for Literature is one of the 10 richest and most prestigious literary prizes in the world.
The yearly prize is endowed by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) to honour the best book by a Nigerian within the last four years. The prize rotates among four literary genres: Prose, Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Children’s Literature and this year, the competition is for Poetry. Entries are hereby invited for the below competition:
Title: The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2022
Location: Nigeria
Description

• The Nigeria Prize for Literature is a registered charity. The secretariat for the administration of the Prize is also located within Nigeria LNG Limited.
• The Nigeria Prize for Literature, known for its transparent assessment process, has recorded over 2,051 entries for 17 competitions that have so far produced 17 winning works since its commencement on February 2004.
• With The Nigeria Prize for Literature, it is expected that the quest for a prestigious prize will improve the quality of writing, editing, proof-reading, and publishing in the country with far-reaching positive effect on print, broadcast journalism, film and theatre production.
• The competition runs a four-year cycle that revolves around Prose Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Children’s Literature in that order. In 2019, the focus was Children’s Literature and the winner was Boom Boom by Jude Idada.
• The 2020 cycle is on prose fiction but its administration was stalled due to the negative impact of COVID-19 which swept round the whole world. It was consequently carried over to 2021.
• The Prize is administered by an Advisory Board set up by Nigeria LNG Limited. The current Advisory Board for Literature is headed by Emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo, a renowned academic and former Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, and a man of unimpeachable integrity. Other members of the Board are Prof. Ben Elugbe, former President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and the West-African Linguistic Society, and Prof. Jerry Agada, former Minister of State for Education of the Federal republic of Nigeria, former president of the Association of Nigerian Authors, and the Vice-Chairman of Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko, Benue State of Nigeria.
• Winners are announced in October, commemorating the first export of LNG cargo by NLNG on October 9, 1999. Winners are honoured at The Grand Award Night, a grade A public ceremony, attended by the la crème of the Nigerian society, including former Heads of State. Winners are subsequently honoured and publicly presented at another public presentation ceremony.

Objectives for Setting up the Prize

• Nigeria became the first in Africa to produce a Nobel Laureate in Literature in the person of Prof. Wole Soyinka. The country also produced one of the most decorated authors in the world, Prof. Chinua Achebe, whose book, Things Fall Apart, translated into more than 61 languages, has been listed by Encyclopaedia Britannica as one of 12 novels considered the greatest book ever written. Then there are the great legacies of other Nigerian writers such as Ben Okri, Cyprian Ekwensi, Femi Osofisan, Gabriel Okara, Christopher Okigbo, Chukwuemeka Ike, Flora Nwapa, among others, whose writings were compelling and helped positively shape what people know about Nigeria.
• However, prior to inauguration of the Prize, the quality of writing, publishing, news features and articles in newspapers and magazines, and the quality of film production on television and radio did not paint a picture of the excellence the industry was previously known for.
• It therefore became evident to us at Nigeria LNG that a well-run literary prize with transparent adjudication process, administered by respected academics, writers and lovers of literature, and with respectable monetary reward, will spur creativity and contribute to the improvement of the quality of writing, editing and publishing in Nigeria. This led to inauguration of the prize on February 2004 with a cash reward of $20,000. The rest, as they say, is history.

Implementation of The Nigeria Prize for Literature:

• The implementation of the Prize is the responsibility of the Advisory Board, supported by the secretariat provided by NLNG.
• Only entries published in the year of the competition or in the three years before then are considered.

Prize Money
The candidate will be rewarded with the sum of $100,000.
Panel of Judges
A Panel of Judges has been appointed for The Nigeria Prize for Literature by the Advisory Board for Literature. The appointment of judges has been done to reflect the genre in competition for the year. Persons appointed as judges have wide experience, peer recognition, good public image and command respect nationally and internationally.
Judges:

• Prof. Sule Emmanuel Egya (Chairman)
• Toyin Adewale-Gabriel (Member)
• Dike Chukwumerije (Member)
• International Consultant: Prof. Susan Kiguli

The outcome of the process as approved by the Advisory Board shall be final.
Announcement and Public Presentation of Winner

• The winner will be announced and presented in October 2022.

Advisory Board:

• Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (Chairman)
• Professor Olu Obafemi (Member)
• Professor Ahmed Yerima (Member)

Application Closing Date
8th April, 2022.
Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should complete and submit their Entries (containing filled Application Form) to:
The Nigeria Prize for Literature,
External Relations Division,
Nigeria LNG Limited,
Corporate Head Office,
NLNG Road, Eastern By-pass,
Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Nigeria.
Click Here for Application Form
Important Notice

• Applicants must also include websites where e-copies or their publication can be purchased.
• Twelve (12) copies of entry and an e-copy, with evidence of Nigerian citizenship (photocopy of Nigerian passport or National Identity Card), may be submitted either by author or publisher. Books should be submitted to Nigeria LNG Limited’s External Relations Division, promoters of the prize, by the stipulated deadline.
• No book published before January, 2018 will be accepted.
• An author will enter only one published work. Unpublished work will not be considered. No book previously submitted for this competition may be re-submitted at a later date, even if major revisions have been made or a new edition published. The prize will be awarded for no other reason than excellence.
• No member of the Advisory Board or Panel of Judges can enter their work(s) for the award in the period in which they are serving and two years thereafter. No entries will be entertained from members of NLNG staff and their familles.
• Failure to meet all stated conditions above will lead to disqualification of the entry.
• Late entries will not be entertained.