The Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall , has said 252 entries have been recorded for this year’s cycle of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, dedicated to Prose Fiction, surpassing the 202 submission of 2021.
Horsfall who disclosed this during the Handover of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, and The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism on 15th April 2025 added that the Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism also attracted 37 compelling entries, reflecting a growing commitment to rigorous literary discourse and analysis.
According to her, this record signals a surge in literary creativity, demonstrating a reinvigorated passion for creative works and a deepened global awareness of Nigerian literature.She informed that in the past 25 years, the Nigeria Prize for Literature has enriched our society by nurturing a culture of literary excellence, fostering creativity, and amplifying the voices of Nigerian writers on the global stage. Through this prize, she said NLNG has witnessed the transformative power of storytelling in shaping perspectives, preserving cultural heritage, and inspiring future generations.
Horsfall stated that the $100,000 Literature Prize is notably one of the most prestigious literary prizes in Africa, while the Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism valued at USD10,000 strengthens the company’s commitment to literary excellence as the prizes not only celebrate outstanding literary craftsmanship but also shine a global spotlight on Nigerian authors, elevating the nation’s literary reputation and fostering a thriving reading culture.
She emphasised that this year’s handover ceremony is a powerful testament to the ingenuity, dedication, and relentless drive of NLNG , respected advisory boards and judges, and every writer who has entered either for the Literature prize or the Literary Criticism prize.
Speaking further, Sophia Horsfall said that as a standard protocol, the Nigeria Prize for Literature is administered by the Advisory Board, led by the esteemed Professor Akachi Ezeigbo, alongside a distinguished panel of judges and their task is immense, especially as every year signals unique works on a different literary genre from the list of Drama, Poetry, Children’s, and the Prose Fiction, which is the genre in focus this year.
“Our commitment to advancing excellence in the quality or literature to improve reading and literacy appetite through these noble prizes is in consonance with NLNG’s aspiration of improving lives sustainably.ear for Prose Fiction. This year’s cycle of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, dedicated to Prose Fiction, marks an extraordinary milestone in the history of the prize.
“This year’s record-breaking entries reaffirm the prize’s impact, proving that Nigerian literature is not only thriving but also commanding greater international recognition.This handover ceremony sets the stage for our long list of eleven, the announcement of the shortlist of three and the eventual outcome of the 2025 edition of the Nigeria Price for Literature and the Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism. With great anticipation of another exciting award, we look forward to the outcome of the adjudication process and the grand celebration of the winning work in October. ” ,she said
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