Nigerian poet, lawyer, and activist Ogaga Ifowodo has won the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature with his poetry collection, Why Does God Need a Gun?
The award, sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited, carries a $100,000 cash prize. Ifowodo was announced as the winner at the company’s Grand Award Night in Lagos on Friday, 9 October, according to Premium Times. premiumtimesng.com
His collection emerged from 223 entries submitted for this year’s poetry competition. The other finalists were James Ngwu Eze, author of Unbind Me Now, and Tares Oburumu, whose collection is Flora’s Love Colony. (bellanaija.com)
Winning collection examines violence
Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, chair of the prize’s advisory board, said that the collection explores religious and political violence in Nigeria through the voice of an imagined victim.
She also praised the three shortlisted collections for their skill and mature use of language.
PUNCH reported that NLNG issued a statement on Saturday announcing the results. The statement was signed by Sophia Horsfall, its general manager for external relations and sustainable development. (punchng.com)
A career spanning poetry, law, and activism
Ifowodo has published six poetry collections, according to his profile on The Nigeria Prizes website.
His earlier books include Homeland and Other Poems, Madiba and The Oil Lamp, each of which won an Association of Nigerian Authors poetry award.
His collection A Good Mourning previously reached the Nigeria Prize for Literature shortlist. He also taught English at Texas State University before returning to Nigeria in 2014. (thenigeriaprizes.org)
Documentary makers receive separate award
The ceremony also recognized filmmakers Peter Oghenetega Oke and Feranmi Abiola as joint winners of the inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts.
Their documentaries, Beyond Tarkwa Bay and Mara Mania, respectively, won the separate awards, which carry a shared $20,000 prize.
The Creative Arts award is distinct from the $100,000 literature prize won by Ifowodo. (brandnews.com.ng)
