NLNG Calls For Submissions To Its 2019's $100K Prize For Literature


The Nigeria Prize for Literature aka the NLNG Prize for Literature, worth $100,000, is calling for submissions in the category of Children’s Literature this year.

To qualify for the Prize which application closes on 5th of April, 2019, you must have a children’s story book that worth the prize and have been written in the last four years. You must also be a Nigerian who has a national passport or national identity card.

Entries are invited for The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2019 based on the following Submission Procedure:

• Ten copies of the entry and, if available, an e-copy, together with evidence of Nigerian citizenship (photocopy of Nigerian passport or National identity card), may be submitted either by authors or publishers, in accordance with the genres in competition.

• Books should be submitted to Nigeria LNG Limited's External Relations Division, promoters of the prize, by the stipulated deadline. Failure to meet the stated conditions will lead to disqualification of the entry.

• No book published before January, 2015 will be accepted. Complete contact information, including full contact address, email(s), phone number(s) and other relevant contact Information should accompany each submission.

• An author will enter only one published work, Mere manuscripts will not be considered. No book previously submitted for this competition may be re-submitted at 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 members of the Advisory Board or Panel of judges can enter their work(s) for the award in the period in which they are serving and two years therafter. No entries will be entertained from members of NLNG Staff and their families.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their entries to:
The Nigeria Prize for Literature,
External Relations Division,
Intels Aba Road Estate,
Km 16 Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway,
P.M.B 5660, Port Harcourt,
Rivers State.

OR

The Nigeria Prize for Literature,
External Relations Division,
Nigerian LNG Limited
4th Floor, Heron House,
10 Dean Farrar Street,
London, SW1 H ODX.
Email: nigeriaprizeforliterature@nlng.com

Panel of Judges
• A panel of judges has been appointed for The Nigeria Prize for Literature by the Advisory Board for Literature.
• The appointment of judges has been done to reflect the genre in competition for the year. Persons appointed as judges have wide experience, peer recognition, good public image, and command respect nationally and internationally.
• The outcome of the process as approved by the Advisory Board shall be final
Panel of Judges
》 Professor Obododinma Oha – Chairman
》 Professor Asabe Usman Kabir – Member
》 DR Patric Oloko – Member

An International Consultant will be appointed.

Advisory Board
》Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo – Chairman
》Professor Jerry Agada – Member
》Professor Emeritus Ben Elugbe – Member

Announcement and Public Presentation of Winners
• The Winners will normally be announced and presented to the public in October this year.



WSA Accepts Submissions From African Writers On Love In Africa


Writers Space Africa (WSA), an international literary magazine, published by the African Writers Development Trust (AWDT), is calling for submissions for its 26th edition (February Edition) under the theme “Love in Africa”.

ANA Receives N3M For 2019 Nationwide Literary Awareness Campaign


The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has secured funding for the 8th year towards the ANA/Yusuf Ali nationwide literary awareness campaign.

In a press statement issued today by the writers' body Publicity Secretary (South), Wole Adedoyin, the Association received the sum of N3,000,000 (Three Million Million Naira) yesterday for the 2019 project from the donor, Yusuf Ali (SAN), an Ilorin-based renowned legal practitioner, author and dedicated philanthropist, whose son Dr Yusuf Olanrewaju Ali recently wedded Barrister Hasiya Altine Nagode in a well-attended Nikkah wedding ceremony in Ilorin on the 29th of December, 2018.

OkadaBooks and Union Bank NG Unveil Winners Of First-Ever Campus Writing Challenge


The first edition of the Campus Writing Challenge, organised by OkadaBooks and Union Bank of Nigeria, was recently concluded at an award ceremony hosted at the Stallion Plaza, headquarters of Union Bank, sponsors of the initiative. 

In a mail from OkadaBooks' Content Manager, Martha Kings, to The Words Finesse (TWF), the hour-long private event was attended by some of the entrants of the contest, including the Top 10 winners, along with a few of their relatives, the OkadaBooks team and representatives from Union Bank.

From a total of 1,793 entries received, to the long list of the top 150 stories, to the shortlist of the top 10, the contest was an exciting journey of literary discovery.

First Place
Sima Essien, is a 100-level student of the University of Nsukka, studying English and Literature. His winning story, All your Colours, tells of the power and pain of family and love.

When asked what inspired his story, Sima revealed that “All your Colours” was actually not the first choice for his entry. He got nervous about his original story and had to do a last minute swap. The story appears to have won the hearts of the judges who had this to say; 

“All Your Colours is a deserving winner, a story told in an inventive and assured voice from. Often you read stories that leave you with enchanting sensations and this is certainly one of those stories.” - Abubakar Ibrahim, contest judge

“All Your Colours by Sima Essien does not have a single false note. It impresses with its vivid use of language and its deft execution of its theme of love, loss and hope.” - Chika Unigwe, contest judge


Second Place
Jesutofunmi Fekoya, a 300-level law student of the University of Lagos snatched the second spot with her story, Dark Clouds, which explores pollution.

In her words: “I wanted to write a story that would not only entertain, but also teach my readers a lesson about the environment”.

Here are what the judges had to say about her story:

“Dark Clouds was chosen for its originality. It is set in Lagos of the future, where clean air is a luxury that only the very rich can afford. It is an original take on a real environmental challenge (pollution) and offers a happy ending.” - Chika Unigwe

“Dark Clouds demonstrates ambition and grit. Though futuristic, it speaks of what may soon be our reality, in a Lagos damaged by an environmental nuclear we seem eager to detonate, but offers hope for the future and speaks of our now. A story told with imagination and confidence.” - Abubakar Ibrahim

Third Place
Joseph Akinkunmi, is a 400-level student of Zoology in the University of Ilorin. His story, Dry Lids and the Devil's Strings, tells the story of a young girl who suffers from an inability to shed tears. Joseph said that his story is inspired by a real life event.

Fiction often helps raise awareness and raise our voice against injustice; Dry Lids and Devil’s Strings does a bit of both.  Beyond that, it is also a compelling story of a young girl at the mercy of an ignorant aunt and unscrupulous pastors. - Chika Unigwe

Audience Favourite
Members of the public were asked to vote a personal favourite story and they chose Silence that Spoke by Roseline Okorie, a 200-level law student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. During a 2-week voting session for the top 150 entries, Roseline’s story scored the highest number of votes.

Best Book Cover
Tales of Kuki by Idaewor Abel, a 300-level dentistry student of the University of Benin, was voted by the public as the entry with the best book cover due to its simple but well detailed graphic design.

Unlike most contests that focus on rewarding only the top 3, the Campus Writing Challenge will be rewarding the top 25. Plans are in motion to make the Campus Writing Challenge an annual competition for students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

It would be recalled that the Writing Challenge jointly judged by two winners of NLNG Prize for Literature, Chika Unigwe and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, which opened submissions on 27th August and closed on 7th of October, 2018, promised total cash prizes of N960, 000 to winner.

The winning and shortlisted entries are also expected to be sent to top publishing houses in Nigeria for publishing opportunity deal for winning students. The winning entries will also be published innthe 1st edition of the Collegiate Anthology, to be compiled by OkadaBooks.


When We Were Growing Up, There Was Enough Time To Read- A.O. Hassan

A.O. Hassan
AbdulAzeez Hassan aka A.O. Hassan is an Officer of the Nigerian Prisons Service and a prolific writer. He is the author of many books of fiction, among which are The Short Route, A Night of Patriotism, The Patriot, The Innavator's Paradise, and Hidden Angle. In this interview with ABDULHAFEEZ T. OYEWOLE,  he delves into books, his journey into writing and his dream for an upright Nigeria.