Everything You Need To Know & How to Submit for NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature 2019

The Advisory Boards for The Nigeria Prize for Literature, The Nigeria Prize for Science and The Literary Criticism Prize, sponsored by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, have called for entries in the 2019 edition of the awards.

Currently in their 15th year, both the literature and science prizes, attract a cash prize of $100, 000 each for the winners, while the winner of the literary criticism prize will receive the sum of N1m.

While the science prize, which recognises outstanding scientific achievements by Nigerians, will this year focus on Climate Change: Erosion, Drought and Desertification.

On the other hand, the 2019 literature prize will focus on Children’s Literature. The prize, which honours the author of the best book by a Nigerian, rotates among four literary genres, namely Prose Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Children’s Literature.

The literary criticism prize, which also aims at promoting Nigerian literature, will receive entries on works in criticism of works by Nigerian writers, especially critical essays on new writings in Nigerian literature.

The sponsors of the competitions, in a statement made available to our correspondent, said that submission of entries in the literature prize and literary criticism prize officially opened on February 15, 2019 and will close on April 5, 2019, while entry in the science prize, which also opened on February 15, 2019, will close on May 3, 2019.

A professor of Creative Writing at the University of Ibadan, Obododinma Oha, will head the panel of judges for this year’s literature and the literary criticism competitions. Other members of the panel include Prof Asabe Usman Kabir and Dr. Patrick Okolo. Kabir teaches Oral and African Literature at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, while Dr. Oloko teaches African Postcolonial Literature at the University of Lagos.

In 2018, Soji Cole won the literature prize award with his play, Embers; Dr. Peter Ngene clinched the science prize for his work in Innovation in electric power and Prof Isidore Diala of the Imo State University, Owerri, took home the literary criticism prize.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature has rewarded eminent writers, such as the late Ikeogu Oke (2017, Poetry) with The Heresiad; Abubakar Ibrahim (2016, Prose) with Season of Crimson Blossoms; Sam Ukala (2014, Drama) with Iredi War; Tade Ipadeola (2013, Poetry) with his collection of poems, Sahara Testaments, Chika Unigwe (2012, prose), with her novel, On Black Sister’s Street; and Adeleke Adeyemi (2011, children’s literature) with his book, The Missing Clock, to mention only a few.

Deadline: April 5, 2019

Prize: The prize comes with a reward of one hundred thousand US dollars ($100,000.00).

Eligibility: Open to only Nigerian writers irrespective of their place of residence.

Submission Procedures:

• Ten copies of the entry and, if available, an e-copy, with evidence of Nigerian citizenship (photocopy of Nigerian passport or National Identity card), may be submitted either by author or publisher, 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, 2015 will be accepted. 
• Complete contact information, including full contact address, email(s), phone number(s) and other relevant contact information should accompany each submission. 
• An author 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. 
• No member of the Advisory Board or Panel of Judges can enter their work(s) for the award in the period in which they are serving and two years thereafter. No entries will be entertained from members of NLNG staff and their families. 

Application:

Entries shall be sent to:

The Nigeria Prize for Literature
External Relations Division,
Intels Aba Road Estate,
Km 16, Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway,
P.M.B 5660, Port Harcourt,
Rivers State, Nigeria.

Or

The Nigeria Prize for Literature
External Relations Division,
Nigeria LNG Limited,
4 Floor, Heron House, th
10 Dean Farrar Street,
London, SW1H 0DX.