The Associate Dean of Humanities at the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Obari Gomba, has won the Nigerian Prize for Literature 2023.
Gomba emerged from 145 entries, 11 longlist and later three shortlist to win with his drama book, Grit.
He beat two other playwrights in a fiercely contested finals held at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos on October 13, 2023.
The other two contestants are Abideen Abolaji Ojomu (Ojuelegba Crossroads) and Henry Akubuiro (Yamtarawala: The Warrior King).
The Literature Prize, which is the biggest in Africa and given annually since 2004, rotates among four genres: fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.
It is sponsored by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company.
In his acceptance speech at the finals held at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos on October 13, 2023, Gomba commended the NLNG for the prize platform, which he said has positively impacted Nigerian literature and creative industry at large. He commended his fellow contestants, describing them as winners too.
Gomba, who teaches Literature and Creative Writing, said his victory cane after five attempts at winning the prize.
However, he was the winner of the 2022 Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) Poetry Prize in the English category.
Speaking on the event, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria LNG Limited, Mr Philip Mshelbila, said the 2023 prize ceremony was held on the theme ‘Redefination’, in line with the need to reevaluate our priorities, visions and to push for change that will make the world a better place for businesses and humans.
He said the authors have used the power of words to redefine values, institute change and call attention to things that needed to be preserved in a fast changing world.
While commending the writers for exhibiting “a high level of literary ingenuity”, he assured on the sustained support for the prizes “as part of efforts to reach our redefinition to make our nation great.”
He added, “The notion of time and space is central to re-definition as there is utmost urgency to safeguard life on earth. The time to act is now and all must unilaterally defend the world.
“The Nigerian Prizes for Science and Literature are all re-definition for excellence where we seek innovation.
“I commend all three shortlisted playwrights for their works and well done to the Advisory Board and the judges for their immense contributions to the prize.”
Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, Professor Akachi Ezigbo-Adimora, noted in her speech that all the three plays that emerged as finalists were well written, edited and published.
She disclosed that a total of 143 plays were entered for the competition.
According to her, the call for entries for the 2024 circle will go out in 2024 and the genre is Children’s Literature.
Other members of the Advisory Board include Professor Olu Obafemi and Professor Ahmed Yerima.
Past winners of the literature prize are:
* Soji Cole (Embers) in 2018;
* Sam Ukala (Iredi War) in 2014;
* Irobi Esiaba (Cemetery Road) in 2010, and
* Ahmed Yerima (Little Drops) in 2006.
Meanwhile, the NLNG also announced Eyoh Etim, a lecturer at Akwa Ibom State University, as winner of the 2023 Literary Criticism Prize worth $10,000.
Also, Hippolite Amadi, a Professor of Medical Engineering and Technology, Imperial College, London, won the $100,000 2023 Nigeria Prize for Science with his work titled “Low-cost Respiratory Technologies for Keeping the Nigerians Neonates Alive”.
A dance troupe, Dance Na The Main Thing, entertained the audience with various performances while a magician, Magic Wiz, thrilled the audience with his performances.
