Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has unveiled the first-ever nominees for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts (NPCA), with 11 documentary films advancing from 98 submissions in the inaugural edition of the US$20,000 award.
The prize, which is sponsored by NLNG, is open to Nigerian creatives aged 18 to 35 and was introduced to identify, recognise and promote outstanding creative work by young Nigerians.
For its maiden edition, participants were invited to interpret the theme “Identity” through documentary films exploring Nigeria, its people, communities, cultures and the country’s evolving sense of identity.
The shortlisted filmmakers are Blessing Bulus (Mi Tazi), Jessica Chinyere (Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women), Unmi Bukar (No Food for Lazy Men), Dominic Fayenuwo (Àkúdàáyà), Tosin Keshinro (Arugba: The Weight of Purity), Ibrahim Khalil Bala (Argungu Fishing Festival), Peter Oghenetega (Beyond Tarkwa Bay), Joseph Okulaja (Calabar My Calabar), Feranmi Abiola (Mara Mania), Abraham Ayodele Aiwyuse (Okrika), and Aimalohi Ojeamiran (Far From Home).
Chair of the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, said the quality and diversity of the entries reflected the depth of emerging creative talent in Nigeria.
She noted that the documentaries presented thoughtful and varied interpretations of identity, engaging with the people, cultures, communities and lived experiences that define contemporary Nigeria.
According to her, the shortlisted works demonstrate the power of documentary filmmaking to preserve important narratives, deepen understanding and portray the complexity of the Nigerian experience through the perspectives of a new generation.
“For a maiden edition, 98 entries represent a strong vote of confidence in the Prize and in the ability of young Nigerians to tell their own stories. These 11 nominees earned their place in the next stage through compelling and thoughtful interpretations of the theme, ‘Identity,’” she said.
The 11 documentaries will now proceed to the final phase of adjudication, with the winner to be announced at NLNG’s Grand Award Night in October 2026.
The winning documentary will become the first recipient of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, which carries a prize value of US$20,000 and aims to provide a platform for emerging documentary filmmakers to showcase original Nigerian stories.
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