2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature
| 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature | |
|---|---|
| Date | 10 October 2025 |
| Location | Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos |
| Country | Nigeria |
The 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature is a literary award worth US$100,000 given for the best English-language novel published by a Nigerian author. The winner, Oyin Olugbile for her novel Sanya, was announced on 10 October 2025 at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos.
Focused on prose fiction,[1] there were 252 entries during the submission space. The jury consisted of Saeedat Bolajoko Aliyu, the chairman, Stephen Mbanefo Ogene, and Olakunle Kasumu. On 26 July 2025, 11 books were longlisted and were announced by Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, the chairman of the advisory board.[2] Chika Unigwe and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, who won the prize in 2012 and 2016 respectively were among the longlist.[3]
On 30 August 2025, the shortlist was released and it contained only three books; This Motherless Land by Nikki May, The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma and Sanya by Oyin Olugbile.[2] On 10 October 2025, Oyin Olugbile was announced as the winner for her novel Sanya.[1]
Judging panel
- Saeedat Bolajoko Aliyu (chair)
- Stephen Mbanefo Ogene
- Olakunle Kasumu
Nominees
Source:[4]
| Author | Title | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Chigozie Obioma | The Road to the Country | Random House Publishing Group |
| Yewande Omotoso | An Unusual Grief | Cassava Republic Press |
| Linda Masi | Fine Dreams | University of Massachusetts Press |
| Michael Afenfia | Leave My Bones in Saskatoon | Griots Lounge Canada |
| Uwem Akpan | New York My Village | W. W. Norton & Company |
| Ayo Oyeku | Petrichor: The Scent of a New Beginning | Eleventh House publishers |
| Chika Unigwe | The Middle Daughter | Dzanc Books |
| Oyin Olugbile | Sanya | Masobe Books |
| Chioma Okereke | Water Baby | Quercus |
| Abubakar Adam Ibrahim | When We Were Fireflies | Masobe Books |
| Nikki May | This Motherless Land | Mariner Books |
See also
References
- ^ a b Sam-Duru, Prisca (2025-10-10). "Oyin Olugbile wins $100,000 The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2025". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
- ^ a b "Nigeria Prize For Literature 2025: May, Obioma, Olugbile make final list". The Guardian Nigeria. 2025-08-30. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
- ^ "Fine Dreams, An Unusual Grief, New York My Village, eight others in $100,000 Nigeria Prize For Literature race". The Guardian Nigeria. 2025-07-26. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
- ^ Emelike, Obinna (2025-07-23). "Advisory Board reveals 11 longlist for 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature". Businessday NG. Retrieved 2025-11-03.