Jude Idada’s children’s book Boom Boom is one of the three shortlisted entries in this year’s edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature worth $100,000 to the winner.
Speaking to thelagosreview, Idada said that the prize sponsored by Nigeria LNG Ltd, will get Nigerians reading again.
Mr. Idada, a Nigerian screenwriter, actor, poet, playwright and producer best known for writing the feature film, The Tenant, spoke to thelagosreview as part of activities leading up to the presentation of the winner next month.
He said: “There was a time when we read but I can the reason why they are not reading now. There is a battle for the attention from Instagram, Facebook, short form content, images and all of that but I believe that they are coming back in terms of increasing their reading potential. And it is the hope of NLNG Ltd, that is why they keep sponsoring the Nigeria Prize for Literature that by and large, we all will learn not only to read but also to write”.
The Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature announced Idada’s Boom Boom, Dunni Olatunde’s Mystery at Ebenezer Lodge and O.T.Begho’s The Great Walls of Benin as finalists for the 2019 edition of the competition.
See the full interview in the video below: