NLNG’s Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts Shortlists 11 Young Filmmakers for $20k Award
The 11 Nominees (in no particular order):
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
Aimalohi Ojeamiran – Far From Home
The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts (NPCA) has taken a major step forward in its maiden edition. From 98 entries submitted by young Nigerian filmmakers, 11 rising documentarians have been shortlisted and are now one step closer to becoming the first-ever winner of the $20,000 prize.
Sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), the newly introduced award targets Nigerian creatives aged 18 to 35. For this inaugural cycle, entrants were invited to interpret the theme “Identity” through documentary stories that explore Nigeria, its people, communities, cultures and evolving sense of self.
How the Inaugural NPCA Cycle Unfolded
The prize was established by NLNG to identify, recognise and promote outstanding creative work by young Nigerians. It sits alongside the well-known Nigeria Prize for Literature and Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, expanding the company’s long-standing investment in intellectual and creative excellence.
Entries for the first edition closed after attracting strong interest from emerging filmmakers. The 98 submissions were assessed by an advisory board chaired by Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo. The board noted that the quality and breadth of the work reinforced the depth of talent among young Nigerian storytellers and their growing confidence in telling the country’s stories on their own terms.
The Essence of the Shortlisted Works
Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo described the 11 selected documentaries as thoughtful and varied interpretations of identity. Collectively, the films engage with the people, cultures, communities and lived experiences that shape contemporary Nigeria.
She emphasised that the works demonstrate the power of documentary filmmaking to preserve important narratives, deepen understanding and present the complexity of the Nigerian experience through the eyes of a new generation. For a maiden edition, she said, 98 entries represent a strong vote of confidence in both the prize and the ability of young Nigerians to tell their own stories.
The shortlisted titles cover a wide range of subjects — from the resilience of women in Ebonyi and the Argungu Fishing Festival to personal and communal explorations of home, purity, migration and cultural heritage.
What Happens Next for the Nominees
The 11 documentaries will now proceed to the next phase of adjudication. The winner will be announced at NLNG’s Grand Award Night in October 2026, where the first recipient of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts will be crowned.
Beyond the $20,000 cash award, the prize offers emerging documentary filmmakers a prominent platform to present original Nigerian stories and gain national recognition. More information about NLNG’s support for the creative sector and the Nigeria Prizes can be found on the official NLNG website.
By shining a light on these 11 rising voices, the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is already fulfilling its purpose: giving young Nigerian filmmakers the opportunity to shape how the country’s identity is seen, remembered and shared with the world.
