CORA, NLNG Celebrate Longlist for 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature, Spotlighting 11 Outstanding Authors
In a grand celebration of Nigeria’s enduring literary tradition and creative renaissance, The Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), in partnership with the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), hosted a vibrant book party in Lagos over the weekend to honour the 11 authors longlisted for the prestigious 2025 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature.
Held as part of the build-up to the final announcement of the $100,000 prize winner in October, the event marked the first public unveiling of the longlisted writers, with attendees participating in readings, a panel discussion, and rich literary exchanges, both on-site and virtually.
“This Book Party is more than an event—it is a stage where Nigeria’s best literary voices are heard, seen, and celebrated,” said Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG.
From 252 Entries to 11 Trailblazers: A Celebration of Literary Excellence
This year’s longlist was selected from a pool of 252 submissions across Nigeria and the diaspora. The panel of judges, chaired by Professor Saeedat Bolajoko Aliyu of Kwara State University, included Professor Stephen Mbanefo Ogene of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Olakunle Kasumu, host of Channels Book Club.
These 11 longlisted authors, now in the national spotlight, represent the new vanguard of Nigerian literature, bringing fresh perspectives to themes ranging from identity and conflict to resilience and national belonging.
“Each of these stories is a seed—rooted in Nigerian soil but blooming on a global stage,” Horsfall remarked.
The Business of Books: The Nigeria Prize for Literature as a Catalyst
Now in its 21st year, The Nigeria Prize for Literature—endowed by NLNG with a $100,000 cash prize—has grown to become Africa’s most prestigious literary honour, with global visibility.
The prize rotates annually across four genres:
- Prose Fiction
- Poetry
- Drama
- Children’s Literature
This rotation has significantly raised editorial, publishing, and storytelling standards across the Nigerian literary ecosystem, pushing publishers, editors, and writers to aim higher.
“We don’t just power homes with gas; we power minds with stories. This Prize has ignited dreams and strengthened a literary economy that Nigeria must continue to nurture,” Horsfall said.
Public Literary Platforms: CORA’s Role in Cultural Conversation
Toyin Akinosho, Secretary-General of CORA, emphasized the need for public platforms like the Book Party to bridge the gap between authors and readers, and to elevate literature beyond book sales to civic dialogue and cultural introspection.
“Without spaces like this, books remain solitary. But literature thrives when it becomes a shared experience,” Akinosho noted.
He called for more investment in public literary culture—from libraries and festivals to school engagement and national reading campaigns—to ensure that Nigeria’s literary legacy is not only preserved but expanded.
BRANDECONOMY INSIGHT: Literature as Soft Power and Intellectual Capital
The Nigeria Prize for Literature is more than a trophy—it is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s soft power, one that enhances the country’s global image not through oil barrels or GDP figures, but through imagination, ideas, and narrative authority.
From a business perspective, the Prize has also:
- Encouraged growth in local publishing ventures
- Increased visibility of Nigerian authors in international markets
- Positioned literary talent as a key contributor to Nigeria’s creative economy GDP
- Inspired the emergence of rights-based literary entrepreneurship (film, theatre, adaptations)
In a world where storytelling shapes national identity and global reputation, Nigeria’s continued support for literary excellence becomes an act of cultural diplomacy.
What’s Next?
With the shortlist expected in September and the winner to be announced in October, literary circles are abuzz with anticipation. Meanwhile, the longlisted authors will continue to engage audiences nationwide, supported by CORA and NLNG in a series of promotional events that will deepen appreciation for their works.
For NLNG and CORA, the journey is clear: to elevate Nigerian storytelling, empower the next generation of writers, and expand the global footprint of African literature.
