Competition 2024
About the Competition
Nwamaka Okoye Literature Prize is a competition designed to unearth and celebrate the diverse and powerful ways in which we come of age. Aimed at unpublished Nigerian authors, the competition called for personal "Coming of Age" stories and poems. The response was overwhelming and truly inspiring.
We embarked on this journey with a simple yet profound objective: to uncover and celebrate the emotional and intellectual growth that defines the transition into adulthood. The competition received over 400 submissions, each entry providing a fresh and deeply personal perspective on this universal theme. Each entry was exceptional, underscoring the talent and depth of thought possessed by the authors.
The first segment took place from the 1st of March 2024 and ended on the 7th of April 2024.
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We had 162 entries and 153 were deemed qualified for the short story category and 212 entries and 183 qualified entries for the poetry category. Meet our winners!​​​
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Eligibility And Criteria
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We invited original and unpublished entries from Nigerian writers aged 16 and above. Submissions were in the form of a short story (with a maximum word count of 2,500) or poetry (limited to 40 lines). Writers were welcome to submit multiple entries, all centered around the theme: ‘Coming of Age.’
The winners received cash prizes and their winning entries were published in a book called Coming of Age.
Our Judges
Nick Oji was born to a Nigerian father and a Russian mother in New Haven, Connecticut, which resulted in many stimulating cultural experienced. At the age of seven, his family moved next to their small village in Nigeria following his father's dream to change his community. ​ He holds a PhD in Communications, two Masters degree (one in Architecture and the other Professional Communications and Leadership) and two Bachelors' degrees (in Architecture and Theology). ​ He is married to his college sweet heart Chinwe and together they have three adorable daughters- Gabby, Nichole and Caroline. Nick has served as a professor, Architect, Morning Show co-host, Minister, and HR Talent Acquisition Specialist, but his most Illuminating experience was a cashier. He is a certified professional in Human Resources (SPHR, SHRM-SCP) who has successfully managed hundreds of people and projects for over two decades across several countries. Inspiring and mobilizing People to live better and positively impact their world is his passion.
Hauwa Shaffi Nunu is a journalist and poet from Nigeria whose work has graced the pages of numerous international publications. Her poetry collection, "Sister", published in collaboration with the African Poetry Book Fund and Akashic Books, showcases her profound understanding of human experiences. Currently serving as Managing Editor at HumAngle Media, Hauwa's journalism delves into the human cost of terrorism and insurgencies, shedding light on issues of migration and displacement.
Henry Akubuiro is an award-winning journalist, playwright, novelist, short writer, children's literature author, a poet and a book reviewer. He is currently the Arts Editor/ Member of the Editorial Board of Daily Sun, one of Nigerian leading newspapers. He is widely known for editing 'The sun Literary Review', Nigeria's longest running literary supplement dedicated to promoting literature, writers and writings. He is the author of the novellas, Little Wizard of Okokomaiko (winner of ANA/Lantern Books Prize for Prose (2009), Adventures of Bingo and Bomboi (2015) and Vershima and the Missing Cow (2020)). He is also the author of the critically acclaimed novel, Prodigals in Paradise (2016), which is on the reading lists of five Nigerian universities. His play, Yamtarawala, The warrior King (2023) was shortlisted for the NLNG sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature, regarded as Africa's biggest literary prize. He was awarded the ANA Literary Journalist of the Year (2005). He is the runner-up for the ANA Prose Prize (2017) and the Nigeria Media Merit Award Arts and Culture Reporter of the Year (2022).
Brenda Wambua is a dedicated educator, linguist and seasoned researcher with over a decade of experience of teaching and equipping English language and professionals. With a passion for fostering independent thinking and effective communication, Brenda has made significant contributions to the academic landscape. Brenda is a holder of a Masters of Arts in English and Linguistics, a Bachelor of Education in English and Literature and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics. Her Experience in teaching spans from 15 years of teaching in English and literature in different high schools in Kenya to 12 years of English and linguistics at university. She is Currently serving as the Head of Department for Language and performing Arts at Daystar University. Her role as the Writing and Speech Co-Ordinator underscores her commitment to enhancing students' writing and speaking. Her membership in prestigious academic organizations such as the International Writing Centers Association and the English Language Professionals of Kenya underscores her standing in the academic community