NLNG targets young Nigerians with new Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts
NLNG has stated that the new Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts will target young Nigerians to inspire them to tell stories that redefine the nation’s image.
At a press conference in Lagos, the Company announced that the Prize, a new category under its sponsored The Nigeria Prizes, will target emerging Nigerian filmmakers aged 18 to 35.
The Company also stated that the Prize will challenge young Nigerians to produce documentary films that celebrate the nation’s identity and reshape global perceptions of Nigeria through information, creativity, and visual excellence.
The prize cycle will begin in February 2026 with a call for entries, alongside the other awards, The Nigeria Prize for Science and The Nigeria Prize for Literature. A $20,000 reward accompanies the prize.
Speaking at a press conference, Sophia Horsfall, General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development, explained that the initiative reflects NLNG’s strong commitment to nurturing creative capital as part of national development.
“The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is an invitation for young Nigerians to own their narrative, to show the world our complexity, our brilliance, and our resilience through film. This Prize symbolises NLNG’s belief that storytelling is nation-building, that every frame, every voice, and every perspective matters in the shaping of who we are and who we aspire to be, Horsfall said.
She emphasised that the initiative connects Nigeria’s vibrant youth population with the wider creative industry, enhancing the nation’s voice on the global stage while fostering unity and understanding through storytelling.
The Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, chaired by Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, will oversee the new category. Emeritus Professor Olu Obafemi and Professor Ahmed Yerima will support her.
Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo noted that the Prize marks a significant milestone in NLNG’s over two-decade journey of celebrating excellence across disciplines.
“The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts reaffirms our belief that excellence knows no boundaries. It can be expressed through writing, speaking, or filming. It challenges its creators to confront truth, explore memory, and translate experience into meaning. Through this Prize, we aim to nurture an ecosystem of young filmmakers whose works will not only inspire Nigerians but also resonate globally,” she said.
She emphasised that the Prize would align with the overarching strategy of the awards to reward excellence.
Joel Benson, an Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker and Technical Advisor to the Advisory Board, stated that the Prize would be benchmarked against international film festival standards, ensuring that winning entries can compete globally. He added that Nigeria’s young creative energy deserves a platform that reflects its ambition.
Benson explained further that only short documentaries of no more than 20 minutes will be accepted in the inaugural edition, adding that entries will be judged on storytelling craft, originality, production quality, and creativity, among other metrics.
He revealed that the judging panel will be chaired by Dr. Sam Dede, a veteran actor, director, and senior lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt. He will be joined by Adeola Aderonke, an award-winning film director, art historian, scriptwriter, and producer, and George Ugwuja, a renowned film producer who has delivered high-quality work for international organisations.
The prize cycle will conclude in October 2026 with the announcement of the final verdict at the Grand Award Night, sponsored by NLNG.
