By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has recorded a major milestone in the inaugural edition of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts as 98 entries were submitted at the close of applications on Thursday, signalling strong interest from young Nigerian creatives eager to tell the nation’s story through documentary filmmaking.
The maiden edition of the prize, themed “Identity,” is dedicated to documentary filmmaking and targets Nigerian youths aged 35 years and below.
Speaking during the official handover of entries, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, described the response as proof of the vast creative potential among Nigerian youths and the growing relevance of authentic storytelling.
Represented by the Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Horsfall said the overwhelming participation reaffirmed NLNG’s belief in storytelling as a powerful tool for national development.
“The remarkable response to the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts reaffirms our belief in the power of storytelling as a tool for national development.
These entries reflect the passion, innovation, and depth of talent within Nigeria’s youth, who are eager to shape narratives that project the country positively to the world,” she said.
According to her, the initiative was created to inspire a new generation of filmmakers to produce compelling documentaries that celebrate Nigeria’s identity, heritage, resilience, and culture while contributing authentic African perspectives to global conversations.
Horsfall further noted that the creative arts prize aligns with NLNG’s long-standing commitment to human capital development and excellence, building on the legacy of The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Science.
The adjudication process will be supervised by the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, chaired by renowned academic and literary icon, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, with filmmaker Joel Benson serving as Technical Adviser.
Receiving the entries on behalf of the judges and advisory board, Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo declared that with the submission of entries, “the prize has come alive.”
She commended the secretariat for its commitment and charged the judges to uphold professionalism, integrity, and excellence throughout the assessment process.
“NLNG is the best thing to have happened to Nigeria — Nigeria literature, creative arts and documentary,” she stated.
The submitted documentaries will now undergo rigorous evaluation based on originality, storytelling, production quality, and overall impact.
The winner of the competition will receive a cash prize of $20,000, with the grand finale and announcement of the winner scheduled for October 2026.
NLNG said the initiative remains part of its broader strategy to empower young Nigerians, strengthen the nation’s creative industry, and project positive Nigerian stories to the global stage.
