The SEVHAGE Literary and Development Initiative, in collaboration with the ALINEA Initiative, proudly announces the launch of the Eugenia Abu/SEVHAGE International Prize for Creative Nonfiction. This prestigious prize, funded and administered by SEVHAGE and ALINEA, honours the acclaimed writer, broadcaster, and media consultant Eugenia Abu. It aims to celebrate exceptional creative nonfiction from writers around the world, showcasing voices that challenge, inspire, and provide profound insights into the human experience. The prize is also supported by an endowment from Dr. Victor Oladokun, Senior Advisor to the President for Communication and Stakeholder Engagement at the African Development Bank Group, along with several anonymous patrons.
The Eugenia Abu/SEVHAGE International Prize for Creative Nonfiction is part of the SEVHAGE Literary Prizes 2024, which also includes categories for Fiction and Critical Essays. Professor Hyginus Ekwuazi, a multi-award-winning writer, scholar, and Professor of Broadcast Media, will serve as the Chief Judge, ensuring the highest-quality entries are selected. Submissions are now open to writers globally and will close at 23:59 WAT on 29th August 2024. The competition is free to enter. The winner will receive seven hundred and fifty thousand naira (₦750,000) and have their work published, with additional opportunities for other shortlisted entries. Selected portions of their work will be featured in an exhibition in Nottingham, England, as part of the SEVHAGE Festival.
Writers are invited to submit 500-2000 words of unpublished work on any theme via the submission form available at here. Detailed submission guidelines can be found on the SEVHAGE website.
“We are honoured to dedicate this year’s Creative Nonfiction Prize to Eugenia Abu, one of Nigeria’s most cherished broadcasters, an award-winning author, and an outstanding mentor,” said Su’ur Su’eddie Vershima Agema, Executive Director and President of SEVHAGE. “Mrs. Abu holds a special place in many of our hearts. Watching her on TV and learning from her guidance has been a privilege. She is a once-in-a-lifetime figure, and we are blessed to have her in our lives. Inspired by her life and legacy, we are excited to celebrate nonfiction works that resonate with readers locally and globally.”
Eugenia Abu is a renowned Nigerian broadcast journalist with numerous awards, including the prestigious NMMA Best Newscaster of the Year in 1995. She anchored the NTA flagship network news for 17 years and retired as Executive Director of Programs after a distinguished 34-year career. Eugenia Abu is a visiting consultant at Bingham University, a council member of Veritas University, and a judge for the National Maltina Teachers Award and the OFAB Media Award. She serves on the National Media Complaints Commission and the board of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, as well as Trust TV. Eugenia Abu is a sought-after multimedia strategist, media consultant, columnist, author, and high-level moderator and facilitator.
She is the author of two books, In the Blink of an Eye (a collection of essays) which won the ANA/NDDC Flora Nwapa Prize for Best Women’s Writing, and Don’t Look at Me Like That (a poetry collection). Eugenia wrote weekly columns for the national newspaper, Sunday Trust for a decade, and for over a decade, has written for the national newspaper, BusinessDay.
The SEVHAGE Literary Prizes are annual awards organized by the SEVHAGE Literary and Development Initiative and SEVHAGE Publishers. Open to Africans and other global writers, the prizes recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions in various categories, including poetry, prose, spoken word, drama, dance, and general writing. Since 2019, the prizes have aimed to spotlight the creativity and excellence of African writers and artists.
For more details about the Eugenia Abu/SEVHAGE International Prize for Creative Nonfiction and to submit your entry, please visit the SEVHAGE website. Stay updated by following @SEVHAGE on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
