In a fresh and exciting development for Nigeria’s creative and scientific communities, the Nigeria Prizes competition has officially opened for entries for the 2026 cycle on Sunday 1st February 2026. The announcement by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has captured the attention of innovators, poets, and storytellers across the country and around the world. This year’s call for submissions highlights three core areas of human creativity and intellectual endeavour: artificial intelligence and digital innovation, poetry, and documentary filmmaking.
NLNG’s Nigeria Prizes have long stood as one of the nation’s most prestigious platforms for recognising and rewarding excellence in science, literature, and now the creative arts. The scheme’s growing influence reflects Nigeria’s evolving cultural landscape and ambition to empower talents that can shape national and global conversations.
Table of Contents
A Renewed Focus on Innovation and Technology in Science Through the 2026 Prizes
For the 2026 cycle, The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation places considerable emphasis on breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and digital technologies that can meaningfully contribute to national development. This focus builds on the reality that these fields are increasingly crucial to economic transformation, job creation, and problem solving in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and governance.
The theme for this year’s Science and Innovation award, “Innovations in ICT, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Technologies for Development”, follows a period where the judges did not declare a winner in the 2025 cycle. That decision, while unusual, underlined the organisers’ high standards and the importance of impactful outcomes rather than merely theoretical work.
Scientists, researchers, and innovators anywhere in the world are encouraged to submit entries that show not only technical excellence but also practical promise. Projects should demonstrate tangible applications, scalability, and relevance to societal challenges. With a prize value of USD 100,000, this category continues to be one of the most sought–after awards in the Nigerian innovation space.
Prof. Barth Nnaji, Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Science and Innovation Prize, emphasised that entries must transcend theoretical ideas and be grounded in real-world potential. The aim is to foster solutions that can be deployed in Nigeria’s development landscape and beyond.
Poetry at the Heart of Nigerian Literary Excellence
For lovers of literature, the Nigeria Prize for Literature for 2026 places the spotlight firmly on poetry. Poets resident in Nigeria and those living in the diaspora are invited to submit their collections, provided they were published from 2023 onwards. The focus on poetry underscores the enduring role this form of expression plays in capturing voice, memory, identity, and social experience.
The Literature Prize also carries a USD 100,000 award, making it one of the richest literary prizes on the African continent. In this era of rapid social change, poetry retains a unique capacity to illuminate personal and collective experiences, challenge assumptions, and explore the nuances of contemporary life.
Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, who chairs both the Literature and Creative Arts advisory boards, said the choice to focus on poetry reflects deep respect for the art form’s power to interrogate society, preserve cultural memory, and translate emotion into language. Her excitement about the entries expected this year reflects the vibrancy of Nigeria’s literary community and the many voices waiting to be heard.
A New Platform for Documentary Filmmakers
One of the most talked–about additions to the Nigeria Prizes is the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts. This new category debuts in 2026 with a specific focus on documentary filmmaking, inviting young Nigerian storytellers to engage with the theme “Identity”.
The Creative Arts Prize aims to create space for authentic narratives told through film. Documentary makers aged 18 to 35 are eligible to participate, with short documentary films that explore personal, communal, or cultural definitions of identity. These could range from investigations of heritage and tradition to reflections on modern life and social change.
The inaugural prize carries USD 20,000, designed to both recognise and support emerging talents in Nigeria’s fast–growing film sector. Films must be original non–fiction works, completed between April 2024 and April 2026, and should not exceed 20 minutes in duration.
Industry veterans and creative professionals will form the judging panel. The evaluation process is planned to be rigorous and transparent, including stages of longlisting, shortlisting, and final adjudication. The goal is to ensure that winners are selected on the strength of storytelling craft, originality, creativity, and production quality.
Joel Benson, an Emmy–winning documentary filmmaker and Technical Advisor to the advisory board, explained that the prize is designed to meet international standards, giving Nigerian documentary films a platform that can compete globally. This is a significant step in elevating Nigerian visual storytelling and enabling young filmmakers to contribute to the global film conversation.
A Call to Nigerian Talent and Global Minds
Across all three categories, the message from NLNG is clear: enter, participate, and let your work speak to the world. For science innovators, poets, and filmmakers, this is an opportunity to not only win significant prizes but to contribute to Nigeria’s cultural and technological evolution.
The Nigeria Prizes have become more than awards. They are a platform that validates excellence and fosters creativity across disciplines. Over the years, they have drawn submissions from across the globe, positioning Nigeria as a hub for intellectual achievement and artistic innovation.
As entries open and creative minds gear up to participate, the anticipation across literary, scientific, and artistic circles continues to build. Whether through AI–driven innovation, verse that captures the spirit of our times, or films that tell deeply human stories, the 2026 Nigeria Prizes cycle promises to be a celebration of talent, ambition, and national pride.
Winners will be announced later in the year, following a period of evaluation by distinguished panels of experts. For more details on the application process and eligibility criteria, interested participants can visit the official Nigeria Prizes website.
This year’s Nigeria Prizes not only reward excellence but seek to inspire a generation to dare, create, and innovate for a better future for Nigeria and beyond.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
