By Barnabas Esiet.
Winners of the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature and the Nigerian Prize for Creative Arts have outlined plans to use their awards and recognition to promote literary development, support local communities and strengthen Nigeria’s creative industry.
The winners, who spoke during engagements with journalists facilitated by Nigeria NLNG Limited in Lagos, highlighted how their achievements could extend beyond personal recognition to address social challenges, encourage emerging talents and create opportunities for underserved communities.
The engagements formed part of activities surrounding the prizes sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), which recognise outstanding Nigerian creativity and literary excellence.
Ogaga Ifowodo, winner of the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature for his poetry collection, Why Does God Need a Gun?, said he planned to establish a poetry prize at his alma mater, Federal Government College, Warri, using part of his $100,000 award.
Ifowodo said the proposed prize would encourage young writers, recalling that his own literary journey began at the school, where he wrote his first poem.
He explained that his award-winning collection was inspired partly by Leah Sharibu, one of the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram, whose refusal to renounce her Christian faith raised questions about religious conviction, extremism and the use of violence in the name of religion.
The collection challenges the justification of violence through religious beliefs and examines how religious authority can be exploited to manipulate followers.
Ifowodo, who said this was his third attempt at winning the prize, also stressed that poetry remained relevant to society but required strong craftsmanship to communicate its message effectively.
In the creative arts category, Rume Onosode, producer and assistant director of Beyond Tarkwa Bay, said the team planned to invest part of its prize money in supporting surfers in the Tarkwa Bay community.
The proposed intervention includes providing surfboards and supporting the welfare of local surfers, whose experiences and environment informed the film.
The initiative reflects the filmmakers’ desire to ensure that the recognition generated by their work also benefits the community represented in the production.
Feranmi Abiola, director of Mara-Mania, another joint winner of the 2026 Nigerian Prize for Creative Arts, called for greater investment in Nigeria’s creative industry, particularly in training, equipment and accessible production facilities.
Abiola explained that Mara-Mania draws on street music and dance culture, highlighting creative expressions that often develop outside established entertainment structures.
She noted the importance of partnerships and funding in bringing independent creative projects to life, pointing to the support received from the French Embassy and the involvement of WeTalkSound in executive production.
Meanwhile, Mary-Brenda Akoda, winner of the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science for her innovation, GenScan AI, highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to improve medical diagnosis and healthcare delivery.
Akoda said she wanted Nigeria to become an early adopter of the technology, rather than a country that waits for innovations developed elsewhere before embracing them.
She disclosed that her previous research included developing an artificial intelligence system for detecting diabetic retinopathy, in collaboration with ophthalmologists at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
She also discussed efforts to test the technology in diagnostic practice, including work involving Asirpo Diagnostic Centre and a pilot linked to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Her comments highlighted the importance of local research, clinical collaboration and practical testing in translating artificial intelligence innovations into solutions that can benefit patients and healthcare providers.
Across the prize categories, the winners’ plans and reflections point to the wider possibilities created when recognition is linked to sustained investment and practical impact.
While Ifowodo intends to nurture emerging poets, Onosode’s team hopes to support surfers in Tarkwa Bay, and Abiola is advocating better conditions for filmmakers and other creative professionals. Akoda, meanwhile, is focused on advancing the adoption of home-grown artificial intelligence for healthcare applications.
For NLNG, the prizes provide platforms for recognising Nigerian excellence and bringing attention to ideas and projects with the potential to contribute to national development.
The winners’ experiences demonstrate how literary expression, filmmaking and scientific innovation can address different challenges while creating opportunities for young people, local communities and professionals.
Their contributions also reinforce the importance of sustained support for education, research, creative infrastructure and emerging talent to ensure that award-winning ideas translate into lasting benefits for society.
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