The entries were handed over to the Advisory Board of the prize, chaired by Professor Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, on Wednesday in Lagos.
Handing over the entries, NLNG’s deputy Managing Director, Sadeeq Mai-Bornu, represented by Acting Manager, Community Relations, Godson Dienye, said stakeholders need to rally around the prize to make sure it was sustainable and took its rightful place in the rank of literary prizes in the world.
He said: “We have received 89 entries this year; lower than what we had in 2014 when drama was also in focus. We must change this trend. All stakeholders must begin to own the prize as theirs and push it to greater heights. We also received two entries for the Literary Criticism Award competition, which unfortunately, appears not to attract many entries. I consider this as a huge gap in Nigeria’s Literacy space.
“To the judges, I urge you to demonstrate your usual proficiency in administering and adjudicating the process, knowing that the world is earnestly waiting for your announcement of another legendary work,” he said.
The 89 entries, which would be examined on their merits of excellence in language, creativity and book quality, were thereafter handed over to the panel of judges led by Professor Matthew Umukoro of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan.
Other jury members include Mohammed Inuwa Buratai, a professor of Theatre and Performing Arts and Dean, Faculty of Arts, Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU), Zaria; and Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Udengwu, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The award will run concurrently with the NLNG’s Prize for Literary Criticism for which only two entries were received for this year’s competition.
Members of the Advisory Board for the Literature Prize, besides Professor Banjo, are Professor Jerry Agada, and Professor Emeritus Ben Elugbe, former President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and president of the West-African Linguistic Society (2004-2013).
The Nigeria Prize for Literature has since 2004 rewarded eminent writers such as Ikeogu Oke (The Heresiad); Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (Season of Crimson Blossoms); Sam Ukala (Iredi War); Tade Ipadeola (Sahara Testaments); Chika Unigwe ( On Black Sister’s Street) as well as Adeleke Adeyemi (The Missing clock).
The prize, one of Nigeria LNG Limited’s numerous contributions towards building a better Nigeria, is Africa’s most prestigious literary award with a cash reward of $100,000. It rotates yearly amongst four literary categories of prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.
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