The Nigeria LNG Limited has said that it has received a total of 124 (one hundred and twenty-four) entries for the 2014 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature which is considered to be the flagship Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative.
The prize which is also considered the most prestigious literary prize in the Continent of Africa has also received a total of five (5) entries for the award for the Literary Criticism which was introduced in 2012.
This was made known by the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, Prof. Ayo Banjo on the occasion of the Handover ceremony of entries received by the NLNG to the Panel of judges at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, recently.
Prof. Banjo disclosed that the project which started out in 2004 has gained a lot in terms of Prestige and remuneration having increased its prize reward from the initial twenty thousand (20,000) Dollars to a whooping one hundred (100,000) thousand Dollar reward to a winning entry.
He also noted that within the ten year lifespan of the Prize, there has been a progression in the response that the prize gets every year which according to him, was a thing of joy to the Advisory board adding that the Board was very particular about the question of merit in that whoever gets the prize, clearly deserves it.
According to him,” we have had a little episode about five years ago, particularly in 2009 when the panel of judges was brave enough to say that nobody deserved the Prize”.
“I am glad today that since 2009, there has not been any year we come out to say that nobody deserved the prize. In 2009, the NLNG has been too gracious to convert the Prize of the year as a grant to the Nigeria academy of Letters which the Academy in turn used to run a workshop at the University of Ibadan”.
He opined that the Board had been receptive to criticisms and ideas that were generated in the public place adding that one of the ways the Board changed its method was in throwing the prize open for any Nigerian anywhere in the world.
The Board Chairman further said that apart from having the Panel of judges resident in Nigeria, the Board also engaged the services of an international consultant that made his first outing with the Prize in 2013, which paid off well in return.
On his part, the General Manager External Affairs of the Nigeria LNG, Mr. Kudo Eresia-Eke noted that the Nigeria LNG was delighted as a company to be associated with the Nigeria Prize for Literature saying that the company had done it with the Prize for over ten years and would continue to support the prize.
Mr. Eke stated that it was not for nothing that the prize has been known as the Nigerian Prize for Literature faulting the way and manner the prize was referred to in the media as NLNG Prize for Literature describing it as a wrong notion.
According to him,” occasionally, I find some errors in the manner, which the Prize is referred to in the media as NLNG Prize. That is not correct. The real appellation of the Prize is the Nigeria Prize for Literature supported, sponsored by Nigeria LNG”.
“Now, it was important for me to emphasize this because the entire reason for being the way we have summarized it as a philosophy of Nigeria LNG is to help build a better Nigeria. So we are focused on whatever it is that can be done to improve Nigeria in any form, I mean that is the reason why we support the Nigeria Prize for Literature”, Eke explained.
He observed that the Nigeria Prize for Literature is awarded yearly and alternates amongst the four literary genres which includes prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature stating that this year’s is drama.
The General Manager who took time to delve into background information on NLNG disclosed that for the award for literary criticism which according to him had not been awarded since introduced two years ago, special consideration should be given to critical essays on the works of the new generation Nigerian writers adding that entries for this award must have been published in a reputable Literary Journal.
While thanking the Panel of Judges for accepting to serve on the panel, for staking their integrity and for bringing their wealth of experience and knowledge to bear on the prize, he however expressed confident in the ability of the panel to deliver the way their predecessors had delivered.
On her part, the Chairman of the Panel of Judges and Professor of Theatre and Drama, Benue State University, Prof. Charity Angya assured the NLNG Management that the confidence reposed on the Panel of Judges would not be compromised.
Prof. Angya appreciated the Board for choosing very distinguished personalities in the literary world to be part of the team.
According to her, “we will do our very best within our competence and expertise to give you the best person who will emerge this year for the Nigeria Prize for Literature. I think what NLNG has done to choose advisers who are very formidable in this profession and people who we always look up to , men of integrity and honour and they have in turn thrust us with the responsibility we intend to carry out very well. So we want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve in this panel”.
Other members of the Panel include Prof. Ahmed Yerima, Playwright and winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2006 edition and Prof. Nasiru Akanji, Professor of Performing Arts, University of Ilorin.
Also on the panel is Prof. Sirayi, a playwright and Dean, Faculty of Arts at Tshwane University of Technology, South-Africa, who would serve as an international consultant.
Highlight of the event was the handover of entries received by NLNG to the Panel of Judges by the Chairman Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Literature, Prof. Ayo Banjo as well as question and answers from the newsmen.
