Ibrahim wins $100,000 NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature

Abubakar Ibrahim

Kazeem Ugbodaga

A Nigerian journalist, Abubakar Ibrahim has emerged the winner of the 2016 Nigeria Prize for Literature as he won a cash prize of $100,000.

In the award put together by the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas, NLNG, Ibrahim was announced winner on Wednesday after his novel, “Season of Crimson Blossom,” was adjured the best.

Prof. Ayo Banjo, Chairman of the Advisory Board for the prize, announced Ibrahim winner at a World Press Conference held the Sheraton Hotels, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

According to the organizer of the event, 173 authors participated in this year’s competition in which three finalists emerged.

The finalists were Elnathan John, who authored the book, “Born On A Tuesday”; Chika Unigwe, who authored “Night Dancer” and the winner, Abubakar Ibrahim. Renowned Professor of Literature and literary, Prof. Dan Izevbaye was the head of the panel.

Prof. Banjo praised Ibrahim for doing a thorough job which earned him a place in history as the winner of this year’s edition.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Science are some of Nigeria LNG Limited’s numerous contributions towards building a better Nigeria.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature has since 2004 rewarded eminent writers such as Gabriel Okara for his volume of poetry, The Dreamer His Vision (co-winner 2005 – poetry); Professor Ezenwa Ohaeto, for his volume of poetry, Chants of a Minstrel (co-winner 2005 poetry); Ahmed Yerima (2006 – drama) for his book Hard Ground; Mabel Segun (co-winner 2007 – children’s literature) for her collection of short plays Reader’s Theatre; Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (co-winner 2007 – children’s literature) with her book, My Cousin Sammy; Kaine Agary (2008 – prose) for her novel Yellow Yellow; Esiaba Irobi (2010 – drama) who won the prize posthumously with his book Cemetery Road; Adeleke Adeyemi (2011 – children’s literature) with his book, The Missing Clock and Chika Unigwe (2012 – prose), with her novel, On Black Sisters’ Street, Tade Ipadeola (2013 – poetry) with his collection of poems, The Sahara Testaments and Sam Ukala (2014-drama) with his play, Iredi War.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates yearly among four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature. The 2016 Prize is for prose fiction.