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The field has narrowed and the race for the 2026 The Nigeria Prize for Literature has reached a decisive stage, as the Advisory Board announces the three shortlisted poetry titles in contention for the prestigious prize.

Following the longlist of 11 titles announced in July from the initial pool of 223 submissions, the shortlist of three works has emerged, bringing their authors one step closer to the coveted $100,000 prize money.

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 with the tripartite structure of body, mind and spirit, Ifowodo interrogates those forces that emblematise the world’s challenging ethos. While Tares Oburumu’s Flora’s Love Colony is written in a densely poetic style on Nigeria’s troubled history. It challenges mainstream narrative and is an inspiring socio-historical collection, captured in lucid imagery and evocative language.”

The shortlist marks the culmination of an intensive judging process that has placed the works under close scrutiny for their language, form, originality, craftsmanship and lasting literary value.

Commenting further on the shortlist, the Chairperson of the Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, said the selection reflects the depth and quality of contemporary Nigerian poetry, noting that arriving at the final three from 223 submissions was a demanding task for the judges.

She said the shortlist represents works that have distinguished themselves through their literary output, originality and ability to engage readers and the world around them.

The 2026 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature is dedicated to poetry, continuing the Prize’s annual rotation among four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.

Now in its 22nd year, The Nigeria Prize for Literature 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.

As the competition moves into its final stretch, the question is no longer who made the cut, but who will ultimately claim the prize. Three voices remain

The post The Nigeria Prize for Literature: Eze, Ifowodo, Oburumu in the race for $100,000 first appeared on Energy News Stream.

Five documentary films have emerged as finalists for the inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts (NPCA) on 25 August 2026, following a rigorous judging process, narrowing the field from the 11 nominees unveiled earlier and moving their creators one step closer to becoming the Prize’s first winner.

The five shortlisted documentaries are Beyond Tarkwa Bay by Peter Oghenetega Oke; Mara Mania by Feranmi Abiola; No Food for Lazy Man by Ummi Bukar; Okrika by Abraham Ayodele Aiwuyuse; and Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women by Jessica Chinyere.

To view the works of the five shortlisted filmmakers, here is the link: https://www.thenigeriaprizes.org/npca-shortlist-of-five-nominees.

The five works emerged from the inaugural edition of the Prize, which attracted 98 submissions from young Nigerian creatives responding to the theme, “Identity.” The theme invited filmmakers to explore Nigeria, its people, communities, cultures and the evolving sense of what it means to be Nigerian.

Their selection marks another significant stage in the journey of the maiden Prize, as the filmmakers move from the initial pool of entries through the 11-nominee stage to the final shortlist.

The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), was established in 2025 to identify, recognise and promote outstanding creative works by young Nigerians aged 18 to 35 years. The US$20,000 Prize provides a platform for emerging documentary filmmakers to tell original Nigerian stories and gain national and international recognition for their work.

The five shortlisted works bring distinct perspectives to the Nigerian experience, continuing the creative exploration of identity that has defined the inaugural edition of the Prize.

From the resilience of women in Ebonyi to life around Tarkwa Bay, the character of Okrika, and other deeply personal and social narratives, the documentaries reflect the diversity of experiences that make up contemporary Nigeria.

The shortlist also underscores the strength of Nigeria’s emerging creative talent and the growing confidence of young filmmakers to tell Nigerian stories from their own perspectives.

Speaking on the progression of the Prize, the Chairperson of the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, noted that the quality and diversity of submissions demonstrated the depth of Nigeria’s emerging creative talent and the ability of young filmmakers to engage thoughtfully with the country’s stories.

With the field now narrowed to five, attention turns to the final stage of adjudication ahead of the announcement of the winner at NLNG’s Grand Award Night in October 2026. The winning documentary will become the first work to receive The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts.

The post Five Filmmakers Edge Closer to History at the Inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts first appeared on Energy News Stream.