By ebosele@hotmail.com
No fewer than 98 entries have been received for the maiden edition of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts following the close of submissions on Thursday.
The inaugural edition of the competition focuses on documentary filmmaking on Nigeria’s story under the theme, “Identity,” with participation open to Nigerian youths aged 35 and below.
The handover of entries marked a major milestone in the Prize cycle, highlighting the strong interest and enthusiasm the initiative has generated within Nigeria’s creative industry.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development of NLNG), Sophia Horsfall, described the volume and quality of entries as evidence of the immense creative potential among young Nigerians and the growing relevance of the Prize in amplifying their voices.
Horsfall, who was represented by the Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, said the response to the competition reaffirmed NLNG’s belief in storytelling as a tool for national development.
“The remarkable response to The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts reaffirms our belief in the power of storytelling as a tool for national development. These entries reflect the passion, innovation, and depth of talent within Nigeria’s youth, who are eager to shape narratives that project the country positively to the world,” she said.
She explained that the Prize was created to inspire a new generation of storytellers to produce compelling documentary films celebrating Nigeria’s identity, heritage and resilience, while contributing authentic African perspectives to global conversations.
According to her, the initiative aligns with NLNG’s broader commitment to human capital development and the promotion of excellence, building on the legacy of The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Science.
The Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, chaired by Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, will oversee the adjudication process with support from Joel Benson, Technical Adviser to the Advisory Board, to ensure professionalism, transparency and integrity in the assessment process.
Receiving the entries on behalf of the judges and advisory board, Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo said the submission of entries signified that “the prize has come alive.”
She commended the secretariat for its dedication and commitment to the success of the prizes, while urging the judges to uphold excellence in their assessments.
“NLNG is the best thing to have happened to Nigeria – Nigeria literature, creative arts and documentary,” she stated.
The submitted works will now undergo a rigorous adjudication process, with entries to be assessed on originality, storytelling, production quality and overall impact.
The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, which carries a cash award of $20,000, is part of NLNG’s sustained investment in promoting creativity, innovation and national development.
The prize cycle will culminate in October 2026 with the announcement of the winner at the Grand Award Night.
Through the initiative, NLNG said it remains committed to empowering young Nigerians, strengthening the creative industry and projecting Nigeria’s stories to the global stage.
