Three Nigerian poets have emerged as finalists for the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature, with James Ngwu Eze, Ogaga Ifowodo and Tares Oburumu now in contention for the $100,000 prize.
The shortlist was announced by the Advisory Board of the prize on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 following an intensive judging process that reduced the entries from 223 submissions to 11 longlisted titles in July and now to three finalists.
Eze was shortlisted for his poetry collection, Unbind Me Now, which the judges described as fluid and aesthetically captivating. The collection examines sociopolitical dysfunction in Nigeria and the wider world, while interrogating the human condition and exploring possibilities for redemption.
Ifowodo’s Why Does God Need A Gun? was also selected for its exploration of religious and political violence in Nigeria through a rich allegorical style. The work examines the forces shaping contemporary society through the themes of body, mind and spirit.
The third finalist, Oburumu, was shortlisted for Flora’s Love Colony, a densely poetic work that examines Nigeria’s troubled history. The judges praised its challenge to mainstream narratives, socio-historical depth, lucid imagery and evocative language.
Chairman of the Advisory Board, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, said the selection demonstrated the depth and quality of contemporary Nigerian poetry.
She noted that selecting the final three works from 223 submissions was a demanding task for the judges, adding that the shortlisted titles distinguished themselves through originality, literary craftsmanship and their ability to engage readers and the wider world.
The 2026 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature is dedicated to poetry, in keeping with the annual rotation of the prize among prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.
Now in its 22nd year, the prize is sponsored by the Nigeria LNG Limited, NLNG, as part of its commitment to promoting literary excellence, creativity and the growth of Nigeria’s literary culture.
With three poets now remaining in the race, attention will turn to the eventual winner of the prestigious $100,000 prize.
