Tony Okuyeme 
The stage is set for an epic literary showdown as the Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by NLNG, announced yesterday that a record 252 entries have been received for the 2025 edition, setting a new level for the quality of entries and promising to be the fiercest competition in the Prize’s history.
Regarded as Africa’s most prestigious literary prize and one of the richest globally, The Nigeria Prize for Literature continues to set the standard for literary excellence.
At a press conference held in Lagos, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, represented by the Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, handed over the entries to the Prize’s Advisory Board, led by literary icon and past winner, Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo.
The entries were subsequently presented to the panel of judges, officially marking the start of what promises to be an intense and highly competitive adjudication process. The number of entries not only surpassed the 2024 figure of 163 but also exceeded the 2021 Prose Fiction cycle, which saw 202 submissions.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Horsfall attributed the high number of entries to “a surge in literary creativity, demonstrating a reinvigorated passion for creative works and a deepened global awareness of Nigerian literature.
“This year’s record entries reaffirm the Prize’s impact, proving that Nigerian Literature is not only thriving but also commanding greater international recognition.
“Today’s handover ceremony is a proof of the ingenuity, dedication, and relentless drive of NLNG, our respected advisory boards and judges, and every writer who has entered either for the Literature prize or the Literary Criticism prize.
Our commitment to advancing excellence in the quality of literature to improve reading and literacy appetite through these noble prizes is in consonance with NLNG’s aspiration of improving lives sustainably,” Horsfall said.
Chairperson of the Advisory Board, Prof AdimoraEzeigbo, expressed optimism that the calibre and volume of entries submitted this year would significantly elevate the quality of the competition.
She noted that the remarkable diversity and depth of literary works would not only make the adjudication process more compelling, but also reaffirm the Prize’s unwavering commitment to literary excellence.
Adimora-Ezeigbo urged the panel of judges to approach the process with the highest standards of integrity and objectivity, upholding the legacy of rigour and distinction that has become the hallmark of the Prize.
According to her, the Advisory Board is fully engaged and anticipates every stage of the selection process with enthusiasm, as this edition may prove to be one of the most competitive in its history.
