Ogaga Ifowodo wins $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature

Nigerian poet, lawyer and activist Ogaga Ifowodo has gained the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature for his poetry assortment, Why Does God Need a Gun? taking house the $100,000 award.

Mr Ifowodo was introduced because the winner at Nigeria LNG Limited’s Grand Award Night in Lagos on Friday night time.

At the ceremony, filmmakers Peter Oghenetega Oke and Feranmi Abiola additionally emerged as joint winners of the inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts for their documentaries, Beyond Tarkwa Bay and Mara Mania, respectively.

The filmmakers shared the class’s $20,000 prize.

Established in 2004 and sponsored by NLNG, the Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates yearly amongst prose fiction, poetry, drama and kids’s literature on a four-year cycle. The $100,000 award is one among Africa’s most dear literary prizes and was created to recognise excellent works by Nigerian authors whereas encouraging creativity and the event of the nation’s literary tradition.

The 2026 version was dedicated to poetry.

From 223 entries

Why Does God Need a Gun? revealed by Masobe Books, was chosen from 223 poetry entries submitted for the 2026 version of the literature prize.

The competitors was decreased to an 11-title longlist in July earlier than Mr Ifowodo, James Ngwu Eze and Tares Oburumu emerged because the three finalists in August.

Mr Eze was shortlisted for Unbind Me Now, whereas Mr Oburumu reached the ultimate stage with Floral’s Love Colony.

The Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Literature, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, described Mr Ifowodo’s profitable assortment as a delicate portrayal of spiritual and political violence in Nigeria, narrated by way of the voice of an imagined sufferer.

She stated the three shortlisted collections demonstrated technical talent, confidence and a mature command of language whereas addressing points that prolonged past Nigeria.

“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 stated.

“These are works deeply rooted in the Nigerian experience, yet they reach far beyond our borders.”

Mr Ifowodo’s poetry has persistently examined Nigeria’s political historical past, violence, displacement, reminiscence and the human penalties of oppressive methods.

He beforehand reached the ultimate stage of the prize in 2017 with A Good Mourning, when Ikeogu Oke gained with The Heresiad.

Mr Ifowodo has additionally gained a number of poetry prizes awarded by the Association of Nigerian Authors.

Creative arts winners

The two profitable documentaries emerged from 98 submissions acquired for the inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts.

The competitors was narrowed to 5 finalists whose documentaries explored the maiden version’s theme, “Identity.”

The organisers recognised Beyond Tarkwa Bay and Mara Mania for documenting communities, preserving cultural reminiscence and drawing consideration to experiences which are usually ignored.

The Technical Adviser to the Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, Joel Kachi Benson, stated the shortlisted documentaries demonstrated the movie’s skill to problem perceptions and deepen public understanding of society.

“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,” Mr Benson stated.

The artistic arts prize was launched to recognise originality, authenticity and excellence in creative expression. Its inaugural version targeted on documentary filmmaking.

The literature and artistic arts outcomes adopted the September announcement of Mary-Brenda Akoda because the winner of the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.

Ms Akoda gained with GenScan AI, often known as GenMRI/C-MORE, a synthetic intelligence-powered answer designed to speed up magnetic resonance imaging.

Her victory made her the primary girl to win the science prize as a person recipient. NLNG additionally described her because the prize’s first Generation Z winner.

Speaking on the ceremony, NLNG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Adeleye Falade stated the Nigeria Prizes have been established to recognise distinctive achievements and encourage work able to contributing to societal improvement.

Mr Falade stated the science and innovation prize had recognised contributions throughout well being, agriculture, engineering, vitality, know-how, local weather resilience and sustainable improvement.

“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,” he stated.

He added that Ms Akoda’s innovation had the potential to enhance lives in Nigeria and elsewhere.

Literature and creativeness

Mr Falade stated the literature prize had developed into an essential platform by way of which Nigerian writers might take part in worldwide conversations about id, resilience and humanity.

“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 stated.

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He described the artistic arts prize as one other avenue for recognising artists who protect Nigeria’s heritage whereas reinterpreting it for youthful generations.

“Together, the Nigeria Prizes have become enduring national institutions and powerful reminders of what is possible when excellence is recognised, rewarded and encouraged,” he added.

Mr Falade congratulated the winners and finalists, describing their achievements as proof of the self-discipline and perseverance required to excel.

He stated the awards have been additionally supposed to encourage rising scientists, writers and creatives to develop concepts able to addressing future challenges and contributing to Nigeria’s improvement.

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, who additionally spoke on the ceremony, recognized creativeness as a typical thread connecting literature, the artistic arts and science.

Mr Soyinka argued that creativeness was not restricted to the humanities, noting that disciplines similar to arithmetic and physics additionally relied on the power to examine prospects past present information.

He known as for nearer collaboration between practitioners within the humanities and sciences, urging them to mix their strengths within the service of humanity.