Panel okays 13 nominees for NLNG writers prize
By Erhumu Bayagbon
Notable contemporary Nigerian writers including Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Head, Department of English, University of Lagos and Wale Okediran, Member, House of Representatives are among the 13 nominees for the prestigious Nigeria Prize for Literature, an initiative put together at the instance of Liquefied Natural Gas Nigeria (NLNG).
This was disclosed on Wednesday evening at the Oceanview Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos. Other writers that made the list include: Bina Nengi-Ilagha, Chim Newton, Fola Authur-Worrey, Jonah Ageda, Lekan Oyegoke, May Ifeoma Nwoye, Promise Ogochukwu Okekwe, Omo Uwaifo, Philip Begho, Toni Onwordi Kan and Vincent Egbuson.
Works by the authors selected for the literary contest are: House of Symbols (Ezeigbo), Condolences (Ilagha), Under the Cherry (Newton), The Diaries of Mr. Michael (Authur-Worrey), God's Own Country (Ageda), Broken Ladders (Oyegoke) and Fetters and Choices (Nwoye)
Others include: Groaning Passage (Okekwe), Fattening House (Uwaifo), Song Bird (Begho), Ballad of Rage (Kan), Love is not Dead (Egbuson) and Dreams Die at Twilight (Okediran).
The winner of the award, which will attract a cash prize of about three million naira will be announced on October 9 at a Grand Award Ceremony to be held at the Congress Hall, Nicon Noga Hilton, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, which drew writers and literary enthusiasts from far and wide, the Managing Director, NLNG, Dr. Andrew Jamieson informed that everything including a pre-award public reading tour is set for the grand award.
"A pre-award public reading tour has been organised for some of the shortlisted authors of the 2004 Nigerian Prize for Literature. The tour will take the authors to six states covering Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Abuja. The tour is being organised to retain the already heightened public interest on the prizes prior to the awards," said Andrew.
However, in his submission, Deputy Managing Director, NLNG, Dr. Samaila Kewa held that the literary initiative is conceived to help install and form part of the structure of excellence, which Nigeria needs. "It is our dream that the younger generation, floundering as it is, will find heroes and heroines worthy of emulation in the recipients of these and similar prizes," he said.
He further gave a hint on the inauguration of the panel of judges. "... A committee on the prize for literature comprising Nigerians of worth was formed. On their shoulders fell the enormous task of charting the course this prize will take. They drew up guidelines for the award and elected judges of impeccable character and solid achievements in literature and writing.
"Upon inauguration of the Panel of Judges on May 6, the entries formally became their property. The judges have been painstaking in the exercise of their responsibility, and their efforts have yielded results. Out of the 97 entries submitted, they have come up with a shortlist of 13 works," Kewa said.
However, writers at the event described the NLNG prize for literature as a laudable initiative, which will fire a new zeal in authors. They also canvassed that such projects should feature regularly.
But a remark that sent shivers to the spines of every one present at the occasion was from a first generation Nigerian writer, Mabel Segun. Dressed in typical African attire, the notable author said in a soft, emotional tone: "I didn't believe I'll see a day when Nigerian writers are recognised in a society that is philistine in outlook. I hope that this prize will be forever and the genesis of many more prizes in Nigerian literature..."
Typical of most gathering of writers, the event featured performance poetry from poets like Perpetual Ezeifule and Funso Alabi as well as thought-provoking songs from Asa, a young Nigerian artiste.
