By Orlin Milinov
The race for the 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), has reached boiling point. Excitement is thick in the air as three top writers — Oyin Olugbile, Chigozie Obioma, and Nikki May — go head-to-head for Africa’s biggest literary honour.
It is a battle of words and imagination, a contest of creativity and craft. Two women and one man stand in the spotlight, each hoping to be crowned the next laureate of the continent’s most prestigious literary award.
Read Also: NLNG declares ‘no winner’ for 2025 Nigeria Prize for Science
Tension rose sharply on Wednesday, September 24, after the Advisory Board for the NLNG-sponsored Nigeria Prize for Science announced a “no winner” verdict for this year’s competition. That shock decision unsettled many in Nigeria’s creative community and stirred apprehension within literary circles. Writers and readers alike have since hoped that the Literature Prize will not suffer a similar outcome.
The three finalists — Olugbile’s Sanya, Obioma’s The Road to the Country, and May’s This Motherless Land — were unveiled in August. Since then, anticipation has continued to build among their fans, publishers, and the wider literary audience.
Come October 10, 2025, the literary world will shift its attention to the NLNG Advisory Board, which will announce the winner in the Prose Fiction category. Whoever emerges victorious will not only receive global acclaim but also walk away with USD $100,000, a reward that underscores the value of literature in shaping minds and societies.
The prize itself goes far beyond financial reward; it represents Africa’s highest literary recognition, a symbol of excellence that elevates the winner to international stature.
This year’s edition has been one of the toughest on record. A staggering 252 entries were received, later pruned to a longlist of 11 after weeks of intensive screening by the panel of judges. The longlist included two previous winners, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim and Chika Unigwe, both based abroad. Their inclusion sparked debate among critics who questioned whether diaspora writers should compete with home-based authors.
In the end, the judging process silenced those fears, as neither of the past winners made it to the final shortlist. The decision reaffirmed the Board’s long-standing reputation for fairness and its guiding principle of rewarding excellence above all else.
Over the years, the Nigeria Prize for Literature has rotated among four genres — prose fiction, drama, poetry, and children’s literature — while maintaining its central goal of recognising outstanding creative writing.
The final three contenders
This year’s judging panel is chaired by Dr. Saeedat Bolajoko Aliyu, Associate Professor in the Department of English, Kwara State University. Other members include Prof. Stephen Mbanefo Ogene of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Olakunle Kasumu, writer, filmmaker, and host of Channels Television’s Book Club.
According to the judges, the three shortlisted novels represent “the very best of Nigerian prose writing,” each exploring relevant cultural themes with engaging, thought-provoking narratives.
Oyin Olugbile’s Sanya impressed the panel with its “fascinating plot” and brisk storytelling pace. The judges described the work as a refreshing, energetic debut that “grabs attention from the first page and never lets go.” Many observers believe such a powerful debut could echo the success of Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia, who won the prize in the last prose fiction cycle with her own debut novel.
Chigozie Obioma, perhaps the most internationally recognised name on the list, comes in as the heavyweight contender. The author of The Fishermen and An Orchestra of Minorities—both Booker Prize nominees—returns with The Road to the Country, a novel the judges praise for its “masterful blend of alternate realities, love, brotherhood, and the devastation of war.”
Nikki May, on the other hand, represents the vibrant voice of Nigeria’s diaspora and the so-called “Japa generation.” Her novel This Motherless Land earned commendation for its “brilliant writing, riveting characters, and emotional depth.” The judges highlighted May’s ability to straddle cultures and explore identity through a bicultural lens. The book’s emotional resonance, they noted, gives it the power to move readers across backgrounds—a trait that often sways literary juries.
History, excellence and expectations
Since its inception, the Nigeria Prize for Literature has remained committed to honouring the finest examples of Nigerian storytelling. Past winners of the prose fiction category include Kaine Agary (2008), Chika Unigwe (2012), Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2016), and Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia (2021). Their achievements underscore the prize’s dedication to celebrating originality, narrative strength, and literary brilliance.
The Chair of the Advisory Board, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, described this year’s shortlist as “exceptional.” According to her, each of the three books stands out for its plotting, characterisation, and use of language that “transports readers into imagined worlds.”
“These are not merely stories,” she said. “They are carefully woven realities—compelling, beautiful, and unflinching in their engagement with familiar yet urgent social issues. The writers’ handling of conflict and resolution reflects their skill and literary maturity.”
Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo added that the Board’s mission remains unchanged: “Our task is to choose the most deserving laureate for the 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature. This cycle has been one of the most competitive yet, and every entry pushed our judgment to the limit. Still, we remain devoted to excellence and to keeping alive the vital conversation around Nigerian literature.”
She serves on the Board alongside Emeritus Professor Olu Obafemi and Professor Ahmed Yerima, both renowned figures in Nigerian arts and letters.
The final countdown
With just days to go before the grand announcement, predictions remain uncertain. Obioma may be the most decorated name in the lineup, but the emergence of Olugbile and May signals a fresh wave of literary talent.
Given the themes of national identity, trauma, and belonging explored in their works, the judges’ decision could reflect deeper cultural undercurrents in Nigeria’s storytelling landscape.
What is certain, however, is that all three writers have delivered novels worthy of the $100,000 reward and of their place in Nigerian literary history. As October 10 approaches, the literary community waits eagerly to see whose story will triumph in this year’s NLNG-sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature.
— Beebom News
