The Nigeria Prize for Literature and the plethora of opinions
By Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor
IT is that time of the year again, where voices of dissent arise over a literature prize that is regarded as the biggest in Africa. Let me delve into this quickly, no need to beat about the bush. The Nigeria Prize for Literature has added colour and vibrancy to the literary scene in Nigeria than anything else has done in the past two decades and counting. If you disagree, please point out to me what else has. Since the Cadbury prizes were rested, I can’t think of any other prize that has made Nigerian writers churn out as much creative work as they have been doing in the past two decades. I have been in the scene long enough to make this claim authoritatively.
Our society is one that pays little or no attention to writers. Many corporate organisations in Nigeria would rather put their money in sponsorship of musical concerts, football tournaments, and many other things that are more glamorous. We have seen banks sponsor dance events. I recall the Celebrity Takes Two Dance programme sponsored by one of our commercial banks some years ago. I was amazed at the quantum of money this particular bank sank into that dancing completion. We have the Maltina Dancetheaon, we have companies sponsoring Big Brother Naija. The list goes on. They consider these programmes as priority in their Corporate Social Responsibility. We are not crucifying them. Our libraries lack books and the government and corporate bodies don’t care enough. But here we have Na gas company, NLNG, sponsoring a literature prize consistently for over two decades and some writers and pretend writers want to crucify them. Daily, more critics are joining the bandwagon. Haba! Pretend writers I say, because some of the loud critics have not written or published a pamphlet. But everybody wants to adorn the garb of a writer. Everyone wants to talk. Everyone wants to suggest something to NLNG and the Advisory Board. Haba! Fellow Nigerians. E don do!
We know that things can be done better. We know that there are areas for improvement, but they do not warrant the glut of criticisms I have read in the past few days. I have read one or two people calling for the cancellation of the prize. Why call for something to be cancelled when you don’t have a replacement for it? So, if the prize is cancelled, what is their gain? What would be the gain of Nigerian writers? What will be the fate of CORA-NLNG Book Party? The book party is one of the yearly rendezvous where some of the few remaining writers left in Nigeria meet up. A lot of writers have left the shores of this nation. The book industry is not so boisterous. The NLNG gives writers something special to look forward yearly, and some people are asking that it be cancelled. Is it not a sinister suggestion?
Can’t the critics of The Nigeria Prize for Literature channel their angst against writers (and publishers) who go into oblivion once they clinch the prize? So many of the longlisted, shortlisted and winning books of the prize are nowhere to be found. Is it NLNG that should be printing and marketing the books for the authors?
Can’t the critics also direct their anger against the Faculties of Arts of our universities and encourage them to recommend these books (the available ones) to their students? Or JAMB that recommends substandard texts for its literature exam? They can use these books for their courses. Certainly, it is not the NLNG that should do that.
For the children’s category, can’t the critics compel Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) to recommend these great books in the reading lists of our primary and secondary schools? It is not the job of NLNG to do that. Some of the books being used in our schools are terribly substandard, to say the least. Why are these fancy critics not looking beyond NLNG to the wider Nigerian problem facing literature?
I agree that the finalists should be given something by the organisers, but if they choose not to do so, must we crucify them with needless criticism? My book, A Hero’s Welcome made the longlist in 2019, and in 2024 I made it to the final three with A Father’s Pride. I understand that hollow feeling of getting that close and not getting any financial reward. But then, The Nigeria Prize for Literature does not define me. It does not define my writing success and that should be the stand of any writer worth their salt. I do not also believe that a winner of the prize should be under any obligation to share the prize money. That is not what defines kindness. I know that Romeo Oriogun (Nomad) and the other two writers had an agreement which he respected. Kudos to them, but should not be the defining standard. It was their choice.
Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo
I have made modest success out of my writing career. It has been a beautiful journey, against all odds. I will continue to improve myself because there is still so much to do. I have won other prizes and the most important thing for me is that my books do not go out of print. That is where I fault many writers, especially those who print a few copies of their books just to submit for a prize. You’ve got to be kidding. That’s not writing, that’s kalo-kalo.
I draw my conclusion by saying that we should not kill the goose that is laying Nigeria’s literary golden egg. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine how dull the Nigeria literary scene would be if NLNG pulls its prize out of it!
See you at Accra if you’d be at Pa Gya 2026 festival! I will be there, courtesy Goethe Institut, Ghana.
* Chiazor-Enenmor’s children’s books have ppeared on the longlist (2019) and shortlist (2024)
