NLNG Unveils 2025 Longlist for Top Literary Prize in Nigeria

The most anticipated literary award in the country, the Nigeria Prize for Literature, has officially unveiled its 2025 longlist. From 252 submissions, 11 outstanding works of prose fiction have been selected. Sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), the prestigious prize offers a $100,000 cash award. This year’s edition, dedicated to prose fiction, is already proving to be one of the most compelling yet.

The 11 longlisted books, arranged alphabetically by title, include;

1.  An Unusual Grief by Yewande Omotoso follows Mojisola as her daughter’s death propels her on a quiet journey of self-discovery. Moving into Yinka’s apartment, she begins to uncover the independent life her estranged daughter lived away from family. In stepping into Yinka’s world, Mojisola not only gains a deeper understanding of her child but also begins to rediscover herself, beyond the roles of wife and mother.
2.  Fine Dreams by Linda N. Masi is a haunting debut set in a fictional town and school, blending myth and history through a ghost’s narration. It follows four-star athletes who, while preparing for exams, are kidnapped and taken to a terrorist camp. There, they endure horrific violence, two are forced into marriage, one into martyrdom,as their dreams unravel in the face of terror.
3.  Leave My Bones in Saskatoon by Michael Afenfia follows Owoicho, a TV presenter whose dream of moving his family to Canada is shaken by a dark event in Makurdi. As he celebrates their approved residency, tragedy strikes back home, threatening everything. Meanwhile, his teenage daughter Ochanya faces personal loss and the turmoil of adolescence. Spanning continents and cultures, this heartfelt novel explores family, resilience, and the haunting question: whose bones lie in Saskatoon?
4.  New York, My Village by Uwem Akpan follows Nigerian editor Ekong Udousoro as he arrives in Manhattan for a prestigious publishing fellowship. What begins with promise soon unravels into a struggle against racism, gentrification, and the lingering trauma of the Biafran War. From a bedbug-infested apartment to cultural alienation, Ekong confronts the hidden hostilities beneath New York’s cosmopolitan veneer. Yet through unexpected friendships and the power of storytelling, he finds hope, healing, and community in the most unlikely places.
5. Petrichor: The Scent of a New Beginning by Ayo Oyeku follows young Jola, who enters a missionary school in 1976 with hope but encounters abuse masked by faith. After a desperate escape and personal tragedy, he returns to a mother fierce with love but powerless against injustice.
6. Sanya by Oyin Olugbile: Sanya has always felt different and everyone around her sensed it too. But after a tragic event forces her to leave home and grow up too soon, she discovers her powers are tied to a dark prophecy she must fight, even at great personal cost. As she forges a new life, hoping to escape her fate, her hidden past resurfaces, sparking a deadly war that threatens her family and everything she holds dear.
7.  The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe begins with loss; first Udodi, then Nani’s father, shattering her world. Isolated from her grieving family, seventeen-year-old Nani is drawn to a charismatic preacher who offers belonging but soon becomes her abusive husband. Bound by love for her children, Nani must summon the strength to reclaim her life without losing what matters most.
8. The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma is a sweeping tale set in 1960s Nigeria. When civil war erupts and his younger brother vanishes, shy, bookish Kunle embarks on a perilous rescue mission. Drawn into the Biafran army and marked by a Seer as an abami eda, one destined to die and return, Kunle’s journey becomes one of atonement, sacrifice, and self-discovery amid the chaos of war.
9. This Motherless Land by Nikki May follows Funke, a quiet girl content with life in Nigeria, until tragedy uproots her to England. There, she finds a cold, unfamiliar world, except for her warm and free-spirited cousin, Liv. As the girls grow into inseparable friends, the secrets and choices of their mothers cast long shadows. When a second tragedy strikes, their bond is shattered, leaving each to navigate love, loss, and identity across continents and distance.
10. Water Baby by Chioma Okereke follows nineteen-year-old Baby, who dreams of escaping the future her father has mapped out in Makoko, the floating slum of Lagos. When she joins a drone-mapping project spotlighting her community, a viral video propels her into unexpected opportunity, including the chance to represent Makoko globally. But as the world opens up, Baby must ask: is the life she dreams of out there, or has it been in front of her all along?
11.  When We Were Fireflies by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim follows brooding artist Yarima Lalo, whose first encounter with a moving train unlocks memories of past lives, both ending in murder. He also meets Aziza, a woman with her own secrets, who helps him unravel the mystery. With a third death looming in his current life, they search for traces of his past. Is he losing his mind or uncovering a truth buried across lifetimes?

The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates annually among four genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature. This year, with its spotlight on prose, the prize highlights the power of narrative fiction to entertain, provoke thought, and inspire meaningful change.