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By Damiete Braide
The race for the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature has entered its final stage, with James Ngwu Eze, Ogaga Ifowodo and Tares Oburumu emerging as the three poets competing for the $100,000 prize.
The shortlist was announced by the Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Literature following a judging process that began with 223 submissions, which were reduced to a longlist of 11 poetry collections in July before the final three were selected.
The shortlisted works are Eze’s Unbind Me Now, Ifowodo’s Why Does God Need A Gun? and Oburumu’s Flora’s Love Colony.
According to the Advisory Board, Unbind Me Now distinguishes itself through fluid and aesthetically captivating language, examining sociopolitical dysfunction in Nigeria and the wider world while interrogating the human condition and possibilities for redemption.
Ifowodo’s Why Does God Need A Gun?, the board said, confronts religious and political violence in Nigeria through a rich allegorical style.
Structured around the concepts of body, mind and spirit, the collection examines forces shaping some of the world’s troubling realities.
Oburumu’s Flora’s Love Colony, meanwhile, explores Nigeria’s troubled history through a densely poetic approach.
The board described it as a socio-historical work that challenges mainstream narratives while deploying lucid imagery and evocative language in presenting its themes.
The judges assessed the entries on literary criteria including language, form, originality, craftsmanship and enduring literary value.
Chairperson of the Advisory Board, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, said the selection process demonstrated the depth and quality of contemporary Nigerian poetry.
She said reducing 223 submissions to three finalists was a demanding task, adding that the shortlisted works distinguished themselves through their literary quality, originality and capacity to engage readers with issues affecting society and the wider world.
The 2026 edition of the prize is dedicated to poetry, in keeping with its rotation among four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.
Now in its 22nd year, The Nigeria Prize for Literature is sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) as part of efforts to promote literary excellence, encourage creativity and contribute to the development of Nigeria’s literary culture.
With the three finalists now confirmed, attention shifts to the announcement of the winner of the $100,000 prize.
Eze, Ifowodo and Oburumu bring different literary approaches to the final contest, with their works engaging Nigeria’s social, political and historical experiences from distinct perspectives.
The eventual winner will emerge from the three collections, concluding the 2026 edition of one of Africa’s most valuable literary prizes.
