The Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2013

Last year, Chika Unigwe won the NLNG Prize for Literature, for her novel, On Black Sisters Street which was published in 2009. 

This year, the call for entry seeks poetry. Below are details on how to submit and what is required.

So, dear published Nigerian poets, submit and hope to be the best/lucky one.

Call For Entries The Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2013

Entries are hereby invited for The Nigeria Prize for Literature. The yearly literary prize is endowed by Nigeria LNG Limited [NLNG] to honour the author of the best book by a Nigerian within the last four years.

The prize rotates among four literary genres - prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature. This year, the competition is for Poetry.

The competition is open only to published works by Nigerian writers irrespective of place of residence. It carries a reward of $100,000.

Submission Procedure

Six copies of the entry and, if available, an e-copy, together with evidence of Nigerian citizenship (photocopy of Nigerian passport or National identity card), may be submitted either by authors or publishers, in accordance with the genres in competition.

Books should be submitted to Nigeria LNG Limited’s External Relations Division, promoters of the prize, by the stipulated deadline. Failure to meet the stated conditions will lead to disqualification of the entry.

No book published before January, 2010 will be accepted.

Complete contact information, including full postal address and/or e-mail(s), phone number(s) and other relevant contact information should accompany each submission.

An author in any competition will enter only one published work. Mere manuscripts will not be considered. No book previously submitted for this competition may be re-submitted at a later date, even if major revisions have been made or a new edition published.

The prize will be awarded for no other reason than excellence.

Panel of Judges

·       A panel of judges shall be appointed for The Nigeria Prize for Literature by the Advisory Board for Literature.

·       The appointment of judges shall be done to reflect the genre in competition for the year. Persons appointed as judges are those who have wide experience, peer recognition, good public image, and command respect nationally and internationally.

Literary Criticism

To encourage literary criticism, the Advisory Board for Literature will also reward one critic with not less than N1,000,000.

Since the aim is to promote Nigerian literature in the world, the prize will be open to literary critics from all over the world. Special considerations shall be given to critical essays on new writing in Nigerian Literature.

Contestants shall send in at least three or more critical essays published in a major scholarly journal. Such a journal shall have proven track record of dedication to excellence and shall have an international circulation.

No critical essay previously submitted for this competition may be considered at a later date, even if major revisions of it have been made. Mere manuscripts will not be considered. Entries not submitted by the deadline and according to stated conditions shall not be considered.  Only entries published in the year of the competition or in the three years before then shall be considered.

No member of the Advisory Boards or Panels of Judges can enter their essay(s) for the literary criticism award in the year they are serving.

Public Presentation

Prizes will be awarded at a Public Presentation.

Close of Entry

All entries must be in by April 12th, 2013. Late entries will not be entertained.

Judges

Professor Romanus Egudu                                                      - Chairman

Professor Abiodun Omolara Ogundipe                                  - Member

Dr. Andrew Abah                                                                   - Member

International Consultant

Professor Kofi Anyidoho

Advisory Board

Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo                                              - Chairman

Dr. Jerry Agada                                                                     - Member

Professor Ben Elugbe                                                             - Member

Entries shall be sent to:

The Nigeria Prize for Literature

External Relations Division  

Nigeria LNG Limited

INTELS Aba Road Estate

Km 16, Aba Expressway

P.M.B 5660, Port Harcourt

Rivers State, Nigeria.

Or

The Nigeria Prize for Literature

External Relations Division

Heron House

10 Dean Farrar Street

London

SW1H 0DX