The race for the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature has entered its decisive stage, with the Advisory Board announcing three poetry titles shortlisted for the prestigious $100,000 prize.
The shortlisted works are Unbind Me Now by James Ngwu Eze, Why Does God Need A Gun? by Ogaga Ifowodo, and Flora’s Love Colony by Tares Oburumu.
The shortlist emerged from an initial pool of 223 submissions, which was narrowed to 11 titles in July before the judges selected the final three.
According to the Advisory Board, Eze’s Unbind Me Now employs fluid and aesthetically captivating language to examine sociopolitical dysfunction in Nigeria and the wider world. The collection interrogates the human condition while charting a path towards redemption.
Ifowodo’s Why Does God Need A Gun? explores religious and political violence in Nigeria through a rich allegorical style. Structured around the themes of body, mind and spirit, the collection examines forces that reflect some of the world’s most troubling realities.
Oburumu’s Flora’s Love Colony, meanwhile, addresses Nigeria’s troubled history through a densely poetic style. The work challenges mainstream narratives and presents an evocative socio-historical perspective through lucid imagery and compelling language.
The shortlist marks the culmination of an intensive judging process that assessed the entries based on language, form, originality, craftsmanship and lasting literary value.
Chairperson of the Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, said the selection demonstrated the depth and quality of contemporary Nigerian poetry.
She noted that narrowing the entries from 223 submissions to three finalists was a demanding task for the judges.
According to her, the shortlisted works distinguished themselves through their literary quality, originality and ability to engage readers while responding meaningfully to the world around them.
The 2026 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature is dedicated to poetry, in line with the prize’s annual rotation among four genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.
Now in its 22nd year, The Nigeria Prize for Literature is sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) as part of its commitment to recognising literary excellence, encouraging creativity and contributing to the development of Nigeria’s literary culture.
With three authors now remaining in contention, attention turns to the final decision on who will emerge as the winner of the coveted $100,000 prize.
