An evening of inspiration, elegance as Olugbile triumphs with ‘Sanya’ for $100,000 lit Prize

…NLNG expands enactment to originative arts

By Prisca Sam-Duru

The Nigerian literate country celebrated its newest Laurette arsenic Olugbile’s ‘Sanya’ was named the victor of The Nigeria Prize for Literature (NPL) 2025, securing the NLNG-sponsored coveted $100,000 award.

The announcement was the item of the NLNG Grand Award Night, a dazzling ceremonial held astatine the Eko Hotels, Lagos.

In a large improvement for the originative industry, the sponsors, NLNG, besides unveiled a caller Creative Arts Prize category, signalling a important enlargement of their committedness to Nigeria’s originative sector.

This year’s yearly solemnisation of The Nigeria Prizes, themed “Inspire,” kicked disconnected with an elegant display. Guests, adhering to the classical achromatic formal code, were greeted by a vibrant greenish carpet and décor that paid homage to Nigeria’s nationalist colours. Interactive elements, including an “inspiration tree” and a “Smile Booth,” engaged attendees earlier they were ushered into the abstraction wherever they enjoyed cocktails with assorted digit foods and afterwards, into the stunningly decorated main hall.

The ceremony, held connected Friday, October 10, 2025, was a blend of exquisite civilization and entertainment. The expansive entranceway of King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, the Perekule XI Natural Ruler of Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom, was, arsenic usual, a memorable spectacle, implicit with a accepted masquerade escort from Bayelsa State.

Entertainment passim the nighttime featured a premix of comedy, classical tunes, and a almighty fusion of modern euphony and accepted Niger Delta dance. The blend was fantastic!

The inspirational evening besides saw the solemnisation of the victor for The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism. Furthermore, the lawsuit featured the unveiling of “Voices of Our Leaders,” a commemorative publication connected NLNG’s 3 decades of past and progress, which was presented by the Honourable Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources, Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo.

He besides work the foreword of the book.

As the evening wore on, the Chairman of the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, announced Okwudiri Anasiudu’s enactment arsenic the winning introduction for The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism. Anasiudu won for his submissions titled Afropolitan Identity and Afrodiasporic Otherness successful Selected African Novels; Allegorical Conjectures successful Helon Habila’s Measuring Time; and Mimetic designs successful Helon Habila’s Oil connected Water.  Anasiudu received $10,000 prize wealth for The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism.

Next was the announcement of the NPL winner- a prize sponsored by the NLNG to beforehand and reward excellence successful writing. To bash that, Prof Adimora-Ezeigbo, supported by different members of the Board-

Emeritus Professor Olu Obafemi and Professor Ahmed Yerima, announced Oyin Olugbile’s debut caller arsenic the victor of the 2025 variation of The Nigeria Prize for Literature. Olugbile emerged victor by beating 252 novels submitted for this year’s competition, and clinched 1 of Africa’s astir prestigious literate honour valued astatine $100,000.

According to Prof Adimora-Ezeigbo, Olugbile’s mythology retelling attack was chiseled and daring for casting Sango arsenic a pistillate and for the projection of Yoruba mythology done a communicative that captivates and meanders into a fantastical world. She stated that Olugbile achieved this done lucid and straightforward language, making for casual reading.

“We were impressed by the prime of the shortlisted books written by 3 writers with divers backgrounds and experiences. The books, Sanya by Oyin Olugbile; The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma, some published by Masobe Books; and This Motherless Land by Nikki May, published by Narrative Landscape, bespeak an betterment successful the prime of section publishing.

“After overmuch cautious assessments and deliberations, we concluded that precise small separates the novels, and each is simply a imaginable victor of the award. However, Oyin Olugbile’s Sanya somewhat takes the borderline and is truthful our prime arsenic the victor of the 2025 The Nigeria Prize for Literature,” she stated.  

Olugbile’s accomplishment against internationally acclaimed authors is simply a positive for debut authors successful African literature. The feat besides positions her among erstwhile ...