Three writers have made the final shortlist of the 2014 Nigeria Prize for Literature worth $100,000 and sponsored by the Nigeria NLG Limited.
The trio that made the final cut, according to a statement signed by Kudo Eresia-Eke, Manager, External Relations of the NLNG are Friday John Abba (Alekwu Night Dance), Jude Idada (Oduduwa, King of the Edos) and Sam Ukala (Iredi War).
The writers made the final cut from a long list of 11 released in July.
214 entries were initially received for this year’s competition being awarded for drama and judged by eminent theatre scholars, Professors Charity Angya, Ahmed Yerima and Akanji Nasiru. Angya, Vice-Chancellor, Benue State University, Makurdi chaired the jury.
Abba, a playwright was chair, Kaduna Writers’ League and former Vice Chair of the Kaduna State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).
Playwright, theatre director, film producer and an academic, Ukala was the chair, Delta State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) while Idada, a screen writer, filmmaker and dramatist, has published works in the three genres of literature.
He won the 2013 Association of Nigerian Authors’ Prize for Drama with Oduduwa: King of the Edos. Idada, who currently lives in Canada, is a graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan.
Chair, Advisory Board of the Literature Prize, Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, disclosed that the winner of will be announced at a world press conference October 9.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates yearly amongst four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature. Next year’s prize will be for children’s literature.
