2024 NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature Longlist Announced

The Nigeria Prize for Literature, a $100,000 annual prize awarded to celebrate literary talent in the four genres of fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature, has announced a longlist of 11 titles for its 2024 edition. This year, the award is for the Children’s Literature genre.

The eleven shortlisted writers and titles are:

1. A Father’s Pride, Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor
2. The Children at the IDP Camp, Olatunbosun Taofeek
3. Grandma and the Moon’s Hidden Secret, Jumoke Verissimo
4. Risi Recycle – The Dustbin Girl, Temiloluwa Adeshina
5. The Magic Jalabiya, Ayo Oyeku
6. Wish Maker, Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike
7. Bode’s Birthday Party, Akanni Festus Olaniyi
8. The Road Does Not End, Familoni Oluranti Olubunmi
9. Village Boy, Anietie Usen
10. The Third Side of A Coin, Hyginus Ekwuazi
11. Mighty Mite and Golden Jewel by Henry Akubuiro

Making the announcement through a video posted on its X account (formerly Twitter), the judges shared that 163 entries were received.

The panel of judges this year is comprised of Prof. Saleh Abdul, Prof. Vicky Sylvester, Dr. Igudia Osarobu, and Dr. Christopher Okemwa.

The shortlist will be announced sometime in August, if that tracks previous announcements. The prize award is sponsored by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas company, (NLNG).