In what promises to be a monumental year for Nigerian literature, the Advisory Board for The NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature has unveiled the longlist for its fiercely contested 2025 edition — and it’s nothing short of a literary clash of titans.
With 11 exceptional prose works emerging from a pool of 252 submissions, the race for Africa’s richest literary prize, valued at a staggering $100,000, is already hotter than expected.
Sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), the Prize honours excellence in literature and rotates annually across four genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature. This year’s focus is on prose fiction, and the longlisted entries reflect a dazzling array of talent, narrative range, and creative depth.
Here are the 11 longlisted works (in alphabetical order):
- An Unusual Grief by Yewande Omotoso
- Fine Dreams by Linda Masi
- Leave My Bones in Saskatoon by Michael Afenfia
- New York, My Village by Uwem Akpan
- PETRICHOR, The Scent of a New Beginning by Ayo Oyeku
- Sanya by Oyin Olugbile
- The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe
- The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma
- This Motherless Land by Nikki May
- Water Baby by Chioma Okereke
- When We Were Fireflies by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
According to Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chair of the Prize’s Advisory Board, the selection process was both meticulous and deeply inspiring. “In sifting through the 252 submissions, the judges have not only selected 11 books, they have unveiled narratives that embody the standards of literary excellence,” she said. “These books are windows into diverse worlds, each brimming with depth, emotion, and craftsmanship.”
As the competition moves towards its final stages, the board expects the journey to evoke a powerful blend of emotions — within the stories themselves and among readers, fans, and stakeholders awaiting the announcement of the grand prize winner. The climactic reveal is scheduled for October, in celebration of NLNG’s historic first LNG export in October 1999.
Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo further emphasized the vital role of prose fiction in shaping national consciousness, inspiring the next generation, and nurturing imagination and empathy. She commended the judges for their “thoughtful and rigorous selection,” and reaffirmed the Advisory Board’s dedication to promoting literary excellence and fostering a strong reading culture in Nigeria and beyond.
As anticipation builds, one thing is clear: the 2025 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature will not just reward outstanding storytelling — it will celebrate the transformative power of literature itself.
A.I
