NLNG, CORA celebrate 11 poets on Nigeria Prize longlist
August 5, 2026 4:11 am
The Nigeria LNG Limited, in partnership with the Committee for Relevant Art, on Sunday celebrated the 11 poets longlisted for the 2026 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature at the annual CORA Book Party held in Lagos.
The event, which followed the announcement of the longlist, brought together writers, readers, critics, journalists, publishers, students and other members of the literary community for readings, conversations and discussions focused on the selected works in this year’s poetry category.
The Book Party provided a platform for the longlisted poets to present their works, read selected pieces and engage directly with the public as part of activities leading to the announcement of the eventual winner of the prestigious literary prize.
Speaking at the event, the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, Dr Sophia Horsfall, described the gathering as one of the most anticipated events on Nigeria’s literary calendar, noting that it celebrates not only the longlist but also the transformative power of literature.
“This annual gathering has become one of the most anticipated moments in Nigeria’s literary calendar. Today, we come together not merely to celebrate a long list, but to celebrate the enduring power of words, the courage of imagination and the extraordinary role that literature continues to play in shaping our national consciousness,” Horsfall said.
She explained that the Book Party extends literary conversations beyond the judges’ table by creating opportunities for writers and readers to engage with the ideas contained in the longlisted works.
According to Horsfall, The Nigeria Prize for Literature was established to recognise exceptional writing while strengthening Nigeria’s culture of reading, critical engagement and creative expression.
She noted that this year’s focus on poetry celebrates a genre capable of distilling complex truths into powerful language, connecting personal experiences with universal realities and giving voice to stories that might otherwise remain unheard.
“The 2026 poetry cycle attracted 223 entries, each offering a distinct rhythm, perspective and artistic expression.
“Together, these submissions attest to the vitality of Nigerian poetry and to the confidence Nigerian writers continue to place in the NLNG-sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature,” she said.
Horsfall added that the 11 longlisted poetry collections emerged after a rigorous selection process conducted by the panel of judges and now stand a step closer to joining the list of distinguished works that have shaped Nigeria’s literary heritage.
She paid tribute to past winners and notable poets, including Ezenwa Ohaeto, Gabriel Okara, Tade Ipadeola, Ikeogu Oke and Romeo Oriogun, whose works, she said, have enriched Nigerian literature and inspired younger generations of writers.
Encouraging aspiring authors, Horsfall said every celebrated writer once started with an idea and a blank page, urging young poets to remain committed to excellence.
“If you do not stop writing, perhaps you will be the next icon to be celebrated at this event. If you would recall, the winner of the 2025 edition of this prize was a first-time writer,” she added.
Also speaking, the Secretary-General of CORA, Mr Toyin Akinosho, described the book party as a unique literary intervention that allows books to be read, discussed, challenged and appreciated before the final announcement of the winner.
“The Book Party remains an intervention in Nigeria’s literary space because it gives visibility to authors and encourages direct engagement between writers and readers,” Akinosho said.
He commended NLNG for its sustained investment in Nigeria’s literary and reading culture.
“We are here because a profitable Nigerian gas company decided that a way to spend some share of its profit is to enable the Nigerian reading space. I’d like to thank NLNG for continuing to support this yearly afternoon of book conversation and the celebration of this country’s finest authors,” he said.
Akinosho further highlighted the uniqueness of the event, noting that few literary prizes around the world offer a public platform where longlisted authors engage directly with readers before the final award is announced.
“I don’t know of any literary prize process in which the final award is prefaced by a celebratory event of this nature, at which the authors face a community of readers in a room and talk about why and how they wrote what they are offering,” he added.
The longlisted works were selected from 223 entries received after the call for submissions opened in February.
The longlist marks a key stage in the adjudication process ahead of the announcement of the shortlist of three finalists and the eventual winner on October 9, 2026.
Now in its 22nd year, The Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by NLNG, rotates annually among four genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.
The 2026 edition is dedicated to poetry, while the CORA Book Party remains one of the activities leading to the final announcement, providing a platform for the public to engage with the longlisted works and their authors.
Onozure is a correspondent of The PUNCH on the judiciary beat. She has over a decade experience covering criminal and civil matters from the magistrate to the appellate courts. She’s a graduate of Political Science
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