The 2025 Nigeria Prize For Literature is now accepting submissions in prose fiction. All entries must be submitted by midnight GMT April 2, 2025.

The NLNG is Nigeria’s biggest literary prize with a $100,000 award. The goal is to improve the quality of writing, editing, proof-reading, and publishing in the country with far-reaching positive effect on print, broadcast journalism, film and theatre production.

The prize rotates among four literary genres–Prose Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Children’s Literature. Olubunmi Familoni won the 2024 prize in children’s literature with his book The Road Does Not End. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia was the last fiction winner in 2021 with her debut novel The Son of the House.

The judges for 2025 NLNG prize Dr. Saeedat Bola Aliyu (Chairperson), Professor Mbaneto Ogene, Olakunle Kasumu, and Dr. Grace Musila.

The competition is exclusively for Nigerian writers, regardless of where they reside. Applicants must be willing to participate in the prize activities and public events, and media exposure opportunities, including interviews, media tours, and book readings.

Submission Guidelines:

  • All applicants must submit their entries accompanied by an application form obtainable online from The Nigeria Prizes website, www.thenigeriaprizes.org.
    Completed forms must be printed and submitted along with the entries. Go to www.thenigeriaprizes.org for more details on submission.
  • Twelve (12) copies of entry and an e-copy of each entry, with evidence of Nigerian citizenship (photocopy of Nigerian passport or National Identity Card), may be submitted either by author or publisher. Books should be submitted to NLNG’s External Relations Division, promoters of the prize, by the stipulated deadline.
  • No book published before 2022 will be accepted.
  • An author will enter only one published work. Unpublished work will not be considered. No book previously submitted for this competition may be re-submitted at a later date, even if major revisions have been made or a new edition published. The prize will be awarded for no other reason than excellence.
    No member of the Advisory Board, Panel of Judges and members of their families can enter their work(s) for the award in the period in which they are serving and five (5) years thereafter. No entries will be accepted from staff of NUNG and their families.
  • No entry submitted after the stipulated deadline will be accepted.
  • Failure to meet all stated conditions above will lead to disqualification of the entry.

Make sure to review the full guidelines and submissions address here.

Also check out the other prizes open for submissions, including a $10,000 prize for literary criticism.

The winners, if any, will be announced and presented in October 2025.