Sanya by Oyin Olugbile has emerged winner of the 2025 version of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, clinching certainly one of Africa’s most prestigious literary honour valued at $100,000.
The announcement was made on the weekend, exactly, tenth October 2025 on the Nigeria LNG Restricted (NLNG) Grand Award Night time in Lagos by the chairman of Advisory Board for the Prize, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, who revealed the winner out of 252 novels submitted for the NLNG-sponsored Prize.
In response to Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Olugbile’s mythology retelling method was distinct and daring for casting Sango as a feminine and for the projection of Yoruba mythology by a narrative that captivates and meanders right into a fantastical world. She acknowledged that Olugbile achieved this by lucid and simple language, making for simple studying.
“We have been impressed by the standard of the shortlisted books written by three writers with numerous backgrounds and experiences. The books, Sanya by Oyin Olugbile; The Street to the Nation by Chigozie Obioma, each revealed by Masobe Books; and This Motherless Land by Nikki Could, revealed by Narrative Panorama, point out an enchancment within the high quality of native publishing.
“After a lot cautious assessments and deliberations, we concluded that little or no separates the novels and every is a possible winner of the award. Nonetheless, Oyin Olugbile’s Sanya barely takes the sting and is subsequently our decide because the winner of the 2025 The Nigeria Prize for Literature,” she acknowledged.
She additional introduced Okwudiri Anasiudu because the profitable entry for The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism. Anasiudu received for his submissions titled Afropolitan Id and Afrodiasporic Otherness in Chosen African Novels; Allegorical Conjectures in Helon Habila’s Measuring Time; and Mimetic designs in Helon Habila’s Oil on Water. The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism comes with a $10,000 prize cash.
In his opening remarks, managing director and chief government officer of NLNG, Philip Mshelbila, highlighted the enduring affect of literature, describing The Nigeria Prize for Literature as “a reminder of the ability of phrases to form id and deepen understanding. Successful the Prize is recognition of scaling the very best heights of literature. All of the shortlisted books this night are works of the very best calibre,” he stated.
He additionally revealed that, The Nigeria Prize for Science can be renamed ‘The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.’ He stated the brand new title displays NLNG’s perception that progress relies upon as a lot on creativity and contemporary pondering as on expertise and infrastructure.
In one other revelation, Mshelbila introduced that NLNG could be resting The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism and introducing a brand new Prize class ‘The Nigeria Prize for Inventive Arts,’ with deal with Documentary Movie. He burdened that, the brand new Prize would encourage a brand new era of storytellers to tell, problem, and join Nigerians extra deeply to who they’re as a nation and who they will develop into.
On vitality, he acknowledged that, in line with the Worldwide Vitality Company, Africa requires over $200 billion yearly in vitality investments to attain its local weather and growth objectives. He added that Nigeria has the capability and accountability to steer this effort. He added that each kilometre of pipeline, each processing plant, and each family gasoline cylinder represents alternatives.
He acknowledged additional that, NLNG takes delight in what it produces and permits, including that “Prepare 7, now over 80 per cent full, is a $10 billion demonstration of what occurs when coverage, planning, funding and execution align. It’s proof that funding yields outcomes. A transparent instance of Nigerian content material growth at work. And it’s a sign that Nigeria can stay aggressive within the international LNG market if we keep centered, coordinated and impressive.”
Throughout his speech, Mshelbila unveiled a brand new guide “Voices of Our Leaders,” a commemorative guide on NLNG’s historical past and progress over three many years. He famous that the guide captures the voices of a few of those that have guided NLNG’s journey from dream to actuality.
The minister of Schooling, Dr Tunji Alausa, in his keynote speech, remarked that whereas there was a lot to have fun, it was equally vital to pause and mirror. He famous that The Nigeria Prize for Science, with its theme “Improvements in ICT, Synthetic Intelligence (AI), and Digital Applied sciences for Improvement,” had not produced a profitable work in 2025. He stated it was a reminder that with out innovation, Nigeria can not hope to compete in a digital future.
In September 2025, the Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Science introduced a no-winner verdict for the Prize. Via The Nigeria Prizes, NLNG continues to reaffirm its enduring dedication to inspiring a sustainable future.
