•From left: Ayo Oyeku (Author, Petrichor), Amarachukwu Chimeka (moderator and Publisher, Purple Shelves Publishing), and Uwem Akpan (Author, New York, My Village) during an engaging fireside chat at the NLNG-sponsored 2025 CORA–The Nigeria Prize for Literature Book Party on Sunday in LagosThe Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), in partnership with the Nigeria Prize for Literature (NPL), celebrated the longlisted authors for the 2025 edition at the 16th annual CORA Book Party in Lagos. The event, held on August 3, brought together a distinguished gathering of authors, publishers, critics and book lovers to celebrate the longlisted writers and the vibrant literary landscape of Nigeria. It featured book readings and a panel discussion, with authors participating both physically and virtually.
The evening also featured speeches from the key organisers who reflected on the prize’s history, its impact on the Nigerian literary ecosystem, and the importance of supporting local talent.
In her remarks at the event, Sophia Horsfall, NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, highlighted the enduring partnership with CORA and the prize’s mission.
“While we produce energy to power homes, we also believe that stories power hope,” she said.
She described the Book Party as a standout among the activities leading to the announcement of the winner in October.
“The NLNG/CORA Book Party is a unique celebration, one that draws authors, journalists, and lovers of literature together in a way that brings excitement and visibility to Nigerian writing,” she said.
“This Book Party is a testament to NLNG’s enduring belief in Nigeria’s creative future. While we produce energy to power homes, we also believe that stories power hope. In the past 20 years, the literature prize has ignited dreams, sharpened critical thinking, and inspired a new generation of Nigerian writers now stepping onto the global literary stage. The Nigeria Prize for Literature continues to give visibility, validation, and encouragement to stories that might otherwise go unheard, reminding the world that Nigeria has voices that matter,” Horsfall added.
Horsfall highlighted the literary community’s growing anticipation ahead of the final announcement, adding that NLNG remains committed to promoting excellence through the Prize. She noted that beyond celebrating writers, the Prize has helped elevate standards in editing, publishing, and the overall literary ecosystem in Nigeria.
She praised the longlisted authors, stating that their achievement is a source of pride for their families, the nation, and NLNG.
She announced that a shortlist of three would be announced in the coming weeks, with the winner crowned on October 10.
Echoing the words of the late literary icon Chinua Achebe, Dr. Horsfall emphasised the importance of Nigerian voices. “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter,” she said, urging the community to “ensure that Nigerian stories are told by Nigerian voices and heard around the world.”
Also speaking at the event, CORA Secretary-General Toyin Akinosho underscored the critical role of public literary platforms in fostering deeper engagement between writers and their audiences.
He emphasised the need for spaces where writers and readers can engage in meaningful dialogue, exchange ideas, and explore the inspirations behind the writing, which according to him are crucial to sustaining a dynamic literary culture.
He extended his gratitude to NLNG for their continued sponsorship, noting that the prize has become a crucial enabler in the Nigerian literary scene.
“We are here because a profitable Nigerian gas company decided that a way to spend some share of its profit is to enable the Nigerian reading space,” Akinosho said. He highlighted NLNG’s significant role beyond the prize, including its expansion by 35% and its contribution of nearly half of the cooking gas consumed in Nigeria, a fact often overshadowed by pipeline vandalism issues.
Akinosho described the 2025 competition as “perhaps the most fiercely contested NPL in the Prize’s 22-year history.” The longlist, he explained, features some of the best writers in Nigeria’s literary firmament, including returnees like Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (a 2016 winner) and Chika Unigwe (a 2012 winner). The longlist also includes authors such as Chioma Okereke (Water Baby), Chigoze Obioma (The Road to the Country), Yewande Omotoso (An Unusual Grief), and Michael Afenfia (Leave my Bones In Saskatoon). Other notable names are Linda M. Masi, Ayo Oyeku, Oyin Olugbile, Nikki May, and Uwem Akpan.
Defending the Literary Community
Akinosho addressed what he called the “old, settled argument” regarding the dichotomy between foreign-based and home-based Nigerian writers. He urged the community not to “re-villagise the Nigerian debate” by relaunching this argument. He also responded to concerns about past winners returning to the competition, calling such critiques unfair and pointing out the prize’s role in community building.
He cited several examples of authors who participated multiple times before winning or returning to the longlist, including Jude Idada, Henry Akubuiro, and Obari Gomba. He also noted that even past winners and advisory board members like professors Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo and Ahmed Yerima have participated in the competition more than once.
CORA’s involvement began in 2010 when it decided to help out after critics called for the prize to do more than just a glamorous gala night. CORA created the Book Party as a way for authors to engage directly with their audience, acknowledging that “nothing beats a Book Reading.”
The Book Party is a key event leading up to the annual Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF), which this year will run from November 13-19 with the theme “Change: Imagining Alternatives.” Akinosho announced that all of the 2025 longlisted authors would be invited to participate in the festival.
Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, NLNG’s Manager, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, delivered the closing address, reflecting on the day’s fulfilling atmosphere. She reiterated NLNG’s commitment to literature, explaining that “development is incomplete without the imagination to envision better futures.”
She encouraged the writers in the room to “keep daring to dream, keep honing your craft, and keep telling our stories in ways that resonate across the globe.” She also called on readers, publishers, teachers, and media friends to continue their crucial role in giving these stories wings.
As the evening concluded, guests were left with a sense of excitement and anticipation for the final announcement in October. The event reaffirmed the prize as a vital force in promoting creativity and ensuring that Nigeria’s rich storytelling tradition continues to inspire future generations.
The longlist was selected from a total of 252 entries by a judging panel chaired by Professor Saeedat Bolajoko Aliyu of Kwara State University. Other members include Professor Stephen Mbanefo Ogene of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Mr. Olakunle Kasumu, host of Channels Book Club.
Now in its 21st year, The Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by NLNG, rotates annually among four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.
