NIGERIA PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2026: EZE, IFOWODO, OBURUMU IN FINAL RACE FOR $100,000 - ITREALMS

The race for the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature has entered its decisive stage, with the Advisory Board announcing the three shortlisted poetry titles contending for the prestigious $100,000 award.

Following the initial 11-title longlist unveiled in July from a field of 223 submissions, the shortlist of three finalist works brings their respective authors one step closer to Africa’s most valuable literary prize.

According to the Advisory Board, the final three selections stand out for their distinct poetic registers, craftsmanship, and thematic depth:

Unbind Me Now by James Ngwu Eze: Uses language that is fluid and aesthetically captivating to decry the sociopolitical dysfunction of the nation and the world at large, interrogating the human condition while charting a path for redemption.


Why Does God Need A Gun? by Ogaga Ifowodo: Depicts religious and political violence in Nigeria through a rich allegorical style. Delivered via a tripartite structure of body, mind, and spirit, the collection interrogates the forces that emblemize contemporary societal challenges.


Flora’s Love Colony by Tares Oburumu: Written in a densely poetic style that confronts Nigeria’s complex history. It challenges mainstream narratives as an evocative socio-historical collection captured in lucid imagery.

The shortlist represents the culmination of an intensive adjudication process evaluating works on language, form, originality, technical execution, and lasting literary value.

Commenting on the shortlist, the Chairperson of the Advisory Board, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, stated that the selection highlights the extraordinary quality of contemporary Nigerian poetry. She noted that paring down 223 submissions to the final three was a rigorous task for the judging panel.

"The shortlisted works have distinguished themselves through their outstanding literary output, originality, and ability to engage readers with the world around them," Adimora-Ezeigbo remarked.

Now in its 22nd year, The Nigeria Prize for Literature is sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) as part of its ongoing commitment to celebrating literary excellence, fostering creative talent, and advancing Nigeria’s cultural ecosystem. The 2026 edition is dedicated to poetry, continuing the prize’s annual cycle across four core genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature.

As the competition enters its final stretch, anticipation builds for the ultimate announcement of the 2026 laureate from among the three surviving voices.