Wale Igbintade
Poet Ogaga Ifowodo has received The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2026, securing the $100,000 money award for his assortment, Why Does God Need a Gun?, which examines spiritual and political violence in Nigeria.
In a associated improvement, Beyond Tarkwa Bay by Peter Oghenetega Oke and Mara Mania by Feranmi Abiola have emerged as joint winners of the inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, which carries a $20,000 money award.
The winners have been introduced on the Grand Award Night organised by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) in Lagos on Friday, October 9, 2026.
Ifowodo’s poetry assortment was chosen from 223 entries, whereas the 2 successful documentaries emerged from 98 submissions for the Creative Arts Prize.
Announcing the literature winner, Chairman of the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, described Why Does God Need a Gun? as a delicate portrayal of spiritual and political violence in Nigeria, narrated by way of the voice of an imagined sufferer.
She counseled all three shortlisted poetry collections for their technical ability, confidence and mature use of language, noting that they addressed themes extending past Nigeria’s borders.
According to her, the collections explored interconnected points, together with id and belonging, the guarantees and disappointments of nationhood, the results of extremism and displacement, and the enduring impression of battle on people and communities.
She mentioned that, though distinct in voice and elegance, the works have been rooted within the Nigerian expertise whereas contributing to wider world conversations about humanity.
On the Creative Arts Prize, Technical Adviser to its Advisory Board, Joel Kachi Benson, praised the 5 shortlisted documentaries for difficult perceptions, fostering human connections and drawing consideration to communities and experiences that always stay missed.
He mentioned the movies introduced audiences nearer to communities whose tales have been not often advised and amplified voices that incessantly went unheard.
Benson added that the documentaries celebrated resilience, documented tradition, preserved reminiscence and introduced views that enriched society’s understanding of itself.
The literature and artistic arts awards adopted the September 2026 announcement of Mary-Brenda Akoda because the winner of The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.
Akoda’s successful innovation, GenScan AI (GenMRI/C-MORE), is a synthetic intelligence-powered resolution designed to speed up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Her victory marked two milestones: she grew to become the prize’s first Generation Z recipient and the primary lady to win as a person awardee.
Speaking on the ceremony, NLNG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Adeleye Falade, mentioned the Nigeria Prizes have been established to recognise excellent achievements and promote scientific innovation, literary excellence and artistic expression that enrich society and enhance lives.
He famous that the science and innovation prize had recognised groundbreaking contributions throughout essential sectors, together with healthcare, agriculture, engineering, vitality, know-how, local weather resilience and sustainable improvement.
According to him, the prize had celebrated scientists whose work prolonged past laboratories and analysis papers to ship sensible options able to enhancing lives.
Falade mentioned this yr’s successful innovation, which focuses on synthetic intelligence and data know-how, had the potential to rework lives in Nigeria and past.
On literature, he mentioned The Nigeria Prize for Literature had grown into considered one of Africa’s most prestigious literary honours, attracting widespread curiosity and offering a platform for a number of the continent’s best literary voices.
He mentioned Nigerian writers had demonstrated by way of the prize that their tales have been greater than accounts of their origins, contributing meaningfully to world conversations about id, resilience and shared humanity.
Falade described the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts as a platform for recognising originality, authenticity and artistic excellence, significantly amongst artists who protect Nigeria’s cultural heritage whereas reinterpreting it for a brand new technology.
He mentioned the three prizes had turn out to be enduring nationwide establishments, demonstrating what may very well be achieved when excellence was recognised, rewarded and inspired.
Congratulating the winners and finalists, Falade mentioned their achievements mirrored self-discipline, dedication and perseverance.
He expressed hope that the awards would encourage a brand new technology of scientists, writers and artistic professionals to develop options to future challenges, inform compelling tales and form the nation’s future.
In his remarks, Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka known as for nearer collaboration between the humanities and the sciences, describing creativeness as an important hyperlink between literature, inventive arts and scientific inquiry.
He argued that creativeness was not confined to the humanities, noting that disciplines resembling arithmetic and physics additionally depended on imaginative and prescient and the power to conceive new prospects.
Soyinka urged practitioners in each fields to work collectively to develop the boundaries of creativeness and mix their strengths within the service of humanity.
He burdened that human wellbeing ought to stay central to inventive expression and scientific development.
NLNG mentioned the Nigeria Prizes reaffirmed its dedication to recognising excellence and inspiring achievements able to contributing to a sustainable future.
