Ogaga Ifowodo wins The Nigeria Prize for Literature with ‘Why Does God Need a Gun?’

Ogaga Ifowodo’s Why Does God Need a Gun? has emerged winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2026 with a cash prize of $100,000.

Beyond Tarkwa Bay by Peter Oghenetega Oke and Mara Mania by Feranmi Abiola Share Creative Arts Honour

Ogaga Ifowodo’s Why Does God Need a Gun? has emerged winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2026 with a cash prize of $100,000. The prize is one of Africa’s most prestigious literary honours.

Meanwhile, Beyond Tarkwa Bay by Peter Oghenetega Oke and Mara Mania by Feranmi Abiola have been named joint winners of the inaugural edition of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, which carries a $20,000 cash award.

The winners were announced at NLNG’s Grand Award Night in Lagos on Friday, 9 October 2026. The winning poetry collection was selected from 223 entries, while the two winning documentaries emerged from 98 submissions to the creative arts prize.

Announcing the literature winner, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chairman of the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature, described Why Does God Need a Gun? as a sensitive portrayal of religious and political violence in Nigeria, told through the voice of an imagined victim.

Her praise extended to all three shortlisted collections, which she said stood out for the poets’ technical skill, confidence and mature use of language. Beyond their individual strengths, she highlighted the shared themes connecting the works:

“Equally compelling is the conversation that unfolds across the three books. Though distinct in voice and style, they engage with related concerns: questions of identity and belonging; the promises and disappointments of nationhood; the consequences of extremism and displacement; and the enduring impact of conflict on individuals and communities. These are works deeply rooted in the Nigerian experience, yet they reach far beyond our borders.”

Speaking on the five shortlisted documentaries, Joel Kachi Benson, Technical Adviser to the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, praised the films for going beyond capturing reality to challenge perceptions and foster deeper human connections. He highlighted their ability to bring overlooked communities and experiences into focus:

“These documentaries transported us into communities often unseen. They amplified voices too often unheard. They celebrate resilience, document culture, preserve memory, and reveal perspectives that enrich our understanding of who we are.”

The literature and creative arts results followed the September 2026 announcement of Mary-Brenda Akoda as the winner of The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation. Her winning innovation, GenScan AI (GenMRI/C-MORE), is an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solution that accelerates magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The award made Akoda the prize’s first Gen Z recipient and the first woman to win as an individual awardee.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NLNG, Adeleye Falade, in his opening remarks, said the Nigeria Prizes were established to acknowledge outstanding achievement and encourage scientific innovation and literary excellence that enrich society and improve lives. He noted that the science and innovation prize had recognised groundbreaking contributions across critical fields, including health, agriculture, engineering, energy, technology, climate resilience and sustainable development.

“It has celebrated the ingenuity, dedication and brilliance of scientists whose work extends far beyond laboratories and research papers to deliver practical solutions that improve lives,” he said, adding that this year’s winning work, focused on AI and information technology, had the potential to transform lives in Nigeria and around the world.

Speaking on the Nigeria Prize for Literature, he said it had grown to become one of Africa’s most prestigious literary honours, attracting widespread interest and providing a platform for some of the continent’s finest literary voices. “Through this prize, Nigerian writers have demonstrated that our stories are far more than accounts of where we come from. They contribute meaningfully to global conversations about identity, resilience and our shared humanity,” he stated.

He described the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts as another platform to recognise and celebrate originality, authenticity and creative excellence. He explained that the prize honours artists who preserve Nigeria’s heritage while reimagining it for a new generation. “Together, the Nigeria Prizes have become enduring national institutions and powerful reminders of what is possible when excellence is recognised, rewarded and encouraged,” he said.

He commended the finalists and winners for embodying these ideals, noting that their achievements demonstrated that excellence is never accidental. Every finalist, he said, represented discipline and dedication, while every winner represented the triumph of perseverance. “As we honour this year’s laureates, we also hope to inspire the next generation of scientists, writers and creatives whose ideas will solve tomorrow’s challenges, tell tomorrow’s stories and shape tomorrow’s future,” he added.

In his remarks, Professor Wole Soyinka highlighted imagination as a vital link between literature, the creative arts and science. He noted that imagination is not confined to the humanities, as disciplines such as mathematics and physics also depend on vision and the ability to conceive new possibilities.

Connecting the fields celebrated by the prizes, he called for closer collaboration between the humanities and the sciences in service of humanity. He urged both to expand the boundaries of imagination and combine their strengths to build a better world, with human wellbeing at the heart of creative expression and scientific advancement.

Through the Nigeria Prizes, NLNG reaffirms its commitment to recognising excellence and inspiring a sustainable future.