Poet Ogaga Ifowodo wins $100,000 Literature Prize; Filmmakers Peter Oke and Feranmi Abiola share $20,000 Creative Arts Prize
Lagos — The 2026 cycle of The Nigeria Prizes reached its climax on Friday, 9 October 2026, as Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) announced winners across Literature, Creative Arts, and Science and Innovation at its Grand Award Night in Lagos.
Poet, scholar and human rights activist Ogaga Ifowodo won The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2026 for his collection Why Does God Need a Gun?, clinching Africa’s biggest literary prize and its $`100,000 cash award. The collection was selected from 223 entries.
In the inaugural edition of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, Beyond Tarkwa Bay by Peter Oghenetega Oke and Mara Mania by Feranmi Abiola emerged joint winners from 98 submissions, sharing the `$20,000 prize.
Announcing the Literature winner, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chairman of the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature, described Why Does God Need a Gun? as a sensitive portrayal of religious and political violence in Nigeria, told through the voice of an imagined victim.
She praised all three shortlisted collections for their technical skill, confidence and mature use of language, noting the powerful conversation across the works:
“Equally compelling is the conversation that unfolds across the three books. Though distinct in voice and style, they engage with related concerns: questions of identity and belonging; the promises and disappointments of nationhood; the consequences of extremism and displacement; and the enduring impact of conflict on individuals and communities. These are works deeply rooted in the Nigerian experience, yet they reach far beyond our borders.”
Speaking on the five shortlisted documentaries for the Creative Arts prize, Joel Kachi Benson, Technical Adviser to the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, said the films went beyond capturing reality to challenge perceptions and foster deeper human connections.
READ MORE: Nig Prize for Lit 2026: Using Verses to Confront Systemic Issues
“These documentaries transported us into communities often unseen. They amplified voices too often unheard. They celebrate resilience, document culture, preserve memory, and reveal perspectives that enrich our understanding of who we are,” Benson said.
The Literature and Creative Arts results followed the September 2026 announcement of Mary-Brenda Akoda as winner of The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation for her innovation, GenScan AI (GenMRI/C-MORE), an Artificial Intelligence-powered solution that accelerates Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Akoda made history as the prize’s first Gen Z recipient and the first woman to win as an individual awardee.
In his opening remarks, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NLNG, Adeleye Falade, said The Nigeria Prizes were established to acknowledge outstanding achievement and encourage scientific innovation and literary excellence that enrich society and improve lives.
He noted that the Science and Innovation prize has recognised groundbreaking contributions across critical fields including health, agriculture, engineering, energy, technology, climate resilience and sustainable development.
“It has celebrated the ingenuity, dedication and brilliance of scientists whose work extends far beyond laboratories and research papers to deliver practical solutions that improve lives,” he said, adding that this year’s winning work, focused on AI and information technology, has the potential to transform lives in Nigeria and around the world.
On The Nigeria Prize for Literature, Falade said it has grown to become one of Africa’s most prestigious literary honours, providing a platform for some of the continent’s finest literary voices.
“Through this prize, Nigerian writers have demonstrated that our stories are far more than accounts of where we come from. They contribute meaningfully to global conversations about identity, resilience and our shared humanity,” he said.
He described The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts as a new platform to recognise and celebrate originality, authenticity and creative excellence — honouring artists who preserve Nigeria’s heritage while reimagining it for a new generation.
“Together, The Nigeria Prizes have become enduring national institutions and powerful reminders of what is possible when excellence is recognised, rewarded and encouraged,” Falade said.
He commended the finalists and winners, noting that every finalist represents discipline and dedication, while every winner represents the triumph of perseverance. “As we honour this year’s laureates, we also hope to inspire the next generation of scientists, writers and creatives whose ideas will solve tomorrow’s challenges, tell tomorrow’s stories and shape tomorrow’s future,” he added.
In his remarks, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka highlighted imagination as a vital link between literature, the creative arts and science. He noted that imagination is not confined to the humanities, as disciplines such as mathematics and physics also depend on vision and the ability to conceive new possibilities.
He called for closer collaboration between the humanities and the sciences in service of humanity, urging both fields to expand the boundaries of imagination and combine their strengths to build a better world, with human wellbeing at the heart of creative expression and scientific advancement.
Through The Nigeria Prizes, NLNG reaffirms its commitment to recognising excellence and inspiring a sustainable future.
