Call for Entries: The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2026

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Entries are now open for the 2026 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, with this year’s competition dedicated to Poetry.

The yearly prize, sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited, is awarded to the author of the best book by a Nigerian and rotates among four genres: Prose Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Children’s Literature.

Submission Procedure

  • All applicants must submit their entries accompanied by an application form obtainable online from the Nigeria Prizes website.
  • Completed forms must be printed and submitted along with the entries.
  • Twelve (12) copies of the entry and an e-copy of each entry, with evidence of Nigerian citizenship (photocopy of Nigerian passport or National Identity Card), may be submitted either by the author or publisher.
  • Books should be submitted to NLNG’s External Relations Division, promoters of the prize, by the stipulated deadline.

Conditions for Entry

  • No book published before 2023 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  • Unpublished work will not be considered.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 resubmitted 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, Panel of Judges, or members of their immediate families can enter their work(s) for the award in the period in which they are serving and five (5) years thereafter.
  • No entries will be accepted from staff of NLNG and their immediate families.
  • No entry submitted after the stipulated deadline will be accepted.
  • Failure to meet all stated conditions above will lead to the disqualification of the entry.
  • The competition is exclusively for Nigerian writers, regardless of where they reside.
  • Applicants must be willing to participate in the Prize activities and public events, and media exposure opportunities, including interviews, media tours, and book readings.

Submission Addresses

Entries should be sent to:

  1. The Nigeria Prize for Literature Secretariat
    External Relations Division, NLNG Corporate Head Office, NLNG Road, Eastern By-Pass, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
  2. The Nigeria Prize for Literature Secretariat
    External Relations Division, NLNG Lagos Transit Office, 38 Oduduwa Crescent, G.R.A., Ikeja, Lagos.
  3. The Nigeria Prize for Literature Secretariat
    External Relations Division, NLNG London Liaison Office, 4th Floor, Heron House, 10 Dean Farrar Street, London SW1H 0DX.

Deadline

All entries must be received by 23:59hrs WAT on Monday, March 31, 2026. Late entries will not be considered.

Further details, including application forms and additional guidelines, are available HERE.

Best of luck to all applicants!

Bakare Oluwatobiloba