Ogaga Ifowodo’s poetry collection, Why Does God Need a Gun?, has won The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2026, earning the Nigerian poet the $100,000 cash award.
Similarly, Beyond Tarkwa Bay by Peter Oghenetega Oke and Mara Mania by Feranmi Abiola have emerged joint winners of the inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, which carries a $20,000 cash award.
The winners were announced at the grand award night organised by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) in Lagos on Friday, October 9, 2026.
While Ifowodo’s winning poetry collection emerged from 223 entries, the two documentaries were selected from 98 submissions to the creative arts prize.
Announcing the literature winner, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chairman of the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature, described Why Does God Need a Gun? as a sensitive portrayal of religious and political violence in Nigeria, narrated through the voice of an imagined victim.
She also commended the three shortlisted poetry collections for their technical skill, confidence and mature use of language.
According to her, the works explored related themes of identity and belonging, the promises and disappointments of nationhood, the consequences of extremism and displacement, and the enduring impact of conflict on individuals and communities.
“Equally compelling is the conversation that unfolds across the three books. Though distinct in voice and style, they engage with related concerns: questions of identity and belonging; the promises and disappointments of nationhood; the consequences of extremism and displacement; and the enduring impact of conflict on individuals and communities,” she said.
Adimora-Ezeigbo added that although the collections were deeply rooted in the Nigerian experience, their themes extended beyond the country’s borders.
On the creative arts prize, Joel Kachi Benson, Technical Adviser to the Advisory Board, praised the five shortlisted documentaries for challenging perceptions and fostering deeper human connections.
He said the films brought attention to communities and experiences that were often overlooked, while amplifying voices that rarely received adequate recognition.
“These documentaries transported us into communities often unseen. They amplified voices too often unheard. They celebrate resilience, document culture, preserve memory, and reveal perspectives that enrich our understanding of who we are,” Benson said.
The literature and creative arts awards followed the September 2026 announcement of Mary-Brenda Akoda as winner of The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation for her artificial intelligence-powered innovation, GenScan AI (GenMRI/C-MORE), designed to accelerate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Akoda became the prize’s first Generation Z recipient and the first woman to win as an individual awardee.
Speaking at the ceremony, NLNG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Adeleye Falade, said the Nigeria Prizes were established to recognise outstanding achievements and encourage scientific innovation and literary excellence that enrich society and improve lives.
He noted that the science and innovation prize had recognised groundbreaking contributions in critical sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, engineering, energy, technology, climate resilience and sustainable development.
“It has celebrated the ingenuity, dedication and brilliance of scientists whose work extends far beyond laboratories and research papers to deliver practical solutions that improve lives,” Falade said.
He added that the 2026 winning innovation, which focuses on artificial intelligence and information technology, had the potential to transform lives in Nigeria and around the world.
On the literature prize, Falade said it had grown into one of Africa’s most prestigious literary honours, attracting widespread interest and providing a platform for some of the continent’s finest literary voices.
“Through this prize, Nigerian writers have demonstrated that our stories are far more than accounts of where we come from. They contribute meaningfully to global conversations about identity, resilience and our shared humanity,” he said.
Falade described the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts as another platform for recognising originality, authenticity and creative excellence, adding that it celebrates artists who preserve Nigeria’s heritage while reimagining it for a new generation.
He said the three prizes had become enduring national institutions that demonstrate the value of recognising and rewarding excellence.
The NLNG chief executive commended the finalists and winners, noting that their achievements reflected discipline, dedication and perseverance.
He expressed hope that the awards would inspire a new generation of scientists, writers and creatives whose ideas would address future challenges, tell new stories and contribute to national development.
Also speaking at the event, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka highlighted imagination as a common thread connecting literature, the creative arts and science.
Soyinka noted that imagination was not limited to the humanities, explaining that disciplines such as mathematics and physics also depended on vision and the ability to conceive new possibilities.
He called for stronger collaboration between the humanities and sciences to advance human wellbeing, urging practitioners in both fields to expand the boundaries of imagination and combine their strengths to build a better world.
NLNG said the Nigeria Prizes reaffirmed its commitment to recognising excellence, promoting innovation and inspiring a sustainable future.
