•From left: Joel Benson, Technical Adviser to Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts (NPCA); Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, NLNG’s Manager, Corporate Communication & Public Affairs; Sophia Horsfall, NLNG’s GM, External Relations & Sustainable Development; and NPCA Advisory Board members, Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (Chairman), and Emeritus Prof. Olu Obafemi, at the unveiling of prize with focus on Documentary filmmaking in Lagos, Friday
NLNG has announced the creation of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, a new category under its prestigious sponsorship of The Nigeria Prizes, specifically designed to target and inspire young Nigerians to tell stories that redefine the nation’s image.
The initiative, unveiled at a press conference in Lagos on Friday, will focus on emerging Nigerian filmmakers aged 18 to 35. The Prize challenges young creatives to produce documentary films that celebrate Nigeria’s identity and work to reshape global perceptions of the country through visual excellence, creativity, and information.
The award for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts comes with $20,000. The inaugural prize cycle will commence in February 2026 with a call for entry, running concurrently with The Nigeria Prize for Science and The Nigeria Prize for Literature. The cycle is set to conclude in October 2026 with the final verdict announcement at the Grand Award Night.
Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, stated that the initiative reflects NLNG’s deep commitment to nurturing creative capital as a vital part of national development.
“The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is an invitation for young Nigerians to own their narrative, to show the world our complexity, our brilliance, and our resilience through film,” Horsfall said, emphasizing that storytelling is an act of nation-building.
The Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, chaired by Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, will administer the new category, supported by Emeritus Professor Olu Obafemi and Professor Ahmed Yerima. Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo noted the Prize marks a significant milestone in NLNG’s over two-decade journey of celebrating excellence.
Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker and Technical Advisor to the Advisory Board, Joel Benson, confirmed the prize would be benchmarked against international film festival standards to ensure winning entries are globally competitive.
Benson also clarified the submission criteria for the inaugural edition:
Only short documentaries will be accepted.
Films must be no more than 20 minutes.
Entries will be judged based on storytelling craft, originality, production quality, and creativity.
The judging panel will be chaired by Dr. Sam Dede, a veteran actor, director, and senior lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt. He will be joined by award-winning film director Adeola Aderonke and renowned film producer George Ugwuja.
