Oyin Olugbile wins $100,000 The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2025

By Prisca Sam-Duru

The anticipation for who emerges adjacent Laureate for the NLNG-sponsored the Nigeria Prize for Literature, came to an extremity connected Friday October 10, 2025, arsenic the Advisory Board for the prize announced Oyin Olugbile arsenic the victor of the 2025 edition.

The Advisory Board for the prize led by Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, made the announcement astatine a Grand Award ceremonial held connected Friday October 10, 2025 astatine the Eko Hotels, Lagos.

Olugbile clinched the prestigious grant for her publication ‘Sanya.’ She received the currency grant of $100,000 for the contention which is considered the richest and astir prestigious literate grant successful Africa.

Olugbile bushed 2 different finalists The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma and This Motherless Land by Nikki May, to triumph the laurel.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates among 4 genres of literature: prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature. The 2025 variation themed “Inspire”, focused connected prose fiction.

Earlier, the Advisory Board Chair, Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo described the

finalists arsenic ‘exceptional’ adding, “Each enactment distinguishes itself done masterful plotting, characterisation, and a bully bid of connection that transports readers into imagined worlds. These are not simply stories; they are cautiously woven realities. They are compelling successful their beauty, stirring successful their affectional resonance, and unflinching successful their engagement with acquainted yet urgent societal issues. The mode the writers handled and resolved struggle highlights their accomplishment and literate standing, making these works rather outstanding.

This rhythm has been 1 of the astir competitory yet, with each introduction showing an awesome level of excellence that stretched our judgement to the limit. Still, we stay committed to excellence, honouring outstanding writings and keeping live the captious speech astir Nigerian literature.”

 Prof Adimora Ezeigbo besides commended each the authors who submitted their works this year, noting, “It has been inspiring to witnesser specified creativity and passion. On behalf of Emeritus Professor Olu Obafemi, Professor Ahmed Yerima, and myself, I tin accidental it is simply a privilege to beryllium portion of thing truthful meaningful and honourable.”

She further commended the judging sheet for their uncompromising evaluation, ensuring that lone the astir outstanding works earned a spot successful the shortlist of three.

This year’s sheet of judges was chaired by Associate Professor Saeedat Bolajoko Aliyu of the Department of English, Kwara State University. Other members of the sheet included Professor Stephen Mbanefo Ogene, Professor of Comparative Literature, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Mr Olakunle Kasumu, writer, filmmaker, producer, and big of Channels Television’s Book Club.

Also, the judges stated that “The shortlist represents the champion of Nigerian prose writing, exploring culturally-relevant themes and telling stories that are exciting, entertaining and instructive.”

They described the winning entry

 Sanya arsenic “a fascinating novel,” adding “From the screen to the crippled that grabs attention, the writer is unrelenting astatine keeping the communicative pacey and intriguing.”

The station Oyin Olugbile wins $100,000 The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2025 appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.