Familoni Oluranti Olubunmi, Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor, Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike

The shortlist for the 2024 Nigeria Prize for Literature has been released! This year, three children’s books are in the running: A Father’s Pride by Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor, The Road Does Not End by Familoni Oluranti Olubunmi, and Wish Maker by Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike. The winner of the $100k prize will be announced in October.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature is an annual award founded by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas company (NLNG). It is one of the top ten richest literary prizes in the world, with the winner receiving a cash prize of $100,000. Since its inception in 2004, the prize has been dedicated to promoting Nigerian literature and has garnered international acclaim. Each year, the award rotates between four genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s fiction. This year, children’s fiction takes the spotlight for the first time since 2019.

Back in 2019, writer and filmmaker Jude Idada won the children’s fiction prize with Boom, Boom, a novel about sickle cell disease and its impact on Nigerian families. That year, his work stood out among other strong contenders, including Mystery at Ebenezer Lodge by Dunni Olatunde and The Great Walls of Benin by O.T. Begho.

Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor is a Nigerian author and educator known for her work in children’s literature, focusing on themes of family, courage, and personal growth. Her shortlisted novel, A Father’s Pride, follows the inspiring journey of a young girl pursuing her dreams. Familoni Oluranti Olubunmi, also a Nigerian author and educator, writes stories that tackle social issues and resilience. His book The Road Does Not End tells the story of a street hawker discovering his passion for music. Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike is a Nigerian writer, poet, and academic whose work spans various genres. His shortlisted children’s book, Wish Maker, is a heartwarming story about family, wishes, and the deeper meaning of Christmas.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature has received over 2,051 entries since it was founded. Last year’s prize focused on drama, with Obari Gomba winning for his play Grit. You can read our coverage of Grit here.