By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The race for the 2026 The Nigeria Prize for Literature has entered its decisive stage, with poets James Ngwu Eze, Ogaga Ifowodo and Tares Oburumu emerging as the three finalists for the prestigious $100,000 prize.
The shortlist, announced by the Advisory Board of the prize, follows the selection of 11 titles from an initial pool of 223 submissions received for the 2026 edition.
The three shortlisted works are Unbind Me Now by James Ngwu Eze, Why Does God Need A Gun? by Ogaga Ifowodo, and Flora’s Love Colony by Tares Oburumu.
According to the Advisory Board, Eze’s Unbind Me Now stands out for its fluid and aesthetically captivating language, while confronting sociopolitical dysfunction in Nigeria and the wider world, interrogating the human condition and exploring pathways to redemption.
The Board described Ifowodo’s Why Does God Need A Gun? as a rich allegorical examination of religious and political violence in Nigeria, structured around the themes of body, mind and spirit and reflecting some of the difficult realities confronting the world.
Oburumu’s Flora’s Love Colony, it said, is a densely poetic work that explores Nigeria’s troubled history, challenges mainstream narratives and offers an inspiring socio-historical perspective through lucid imagery and evocative language.
The shortlisted works emerged after an intensive judging process that assessed the entries based on language, form, originality, craftsmanship and enduring literary value.
Chairperson of the Advisory Board, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, said the final selection demonstrated the depth and quality of contemporary Nigerian poetry.
She noted that reducing the 223 submissions to three finalists was a demanding task for the judges, adding that the shortlisted works distinguished themselves through originality, literary excellence and their ability to engage readers and respond meaningfully to the world around them.
The 2026 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature is dedicated to poetry, in line with the prize’s annual rotation among four genres—prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.
Now in its 22nd year, The Nigeria Prize for Literature is sponsored by the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) as part of its commitment to recognising literary excellence, promoting creativity and supporting the growth of Nigeria’s literary culture.
With only three poets remaining in contention, attention now shifts to the final decision on who will emerge winner of the coveted $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature.
