The poet’s winning collection examines religious and political violence in Nigeria through the imagined voice of a victim.
Nigerian poet, lawyer and activist Ogaga Ifowodo has won the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature for his poetry collection, Why Does God Need a Gun? taking home the $100,000 award.
At the ceremony, filmmakers Peter Oghenetega Oke and Feranmi Abiola also emerged as joint winners of the inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts for their documentaries, Beyond Tarkwa Bay and Mara Mania, respectively.
The filmmakers shared the category’s $20,000 prize.
Established in 2004 and sponsored by NLNG, the Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates annually among prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature on a four-year cycle. The $100,000 award is one of Africa’s most valuable literary prizes and was created to recognise outstanding works by Nigerian authors while encouraging creativity and the development of the country’s literary culture.
The 2026 edition was devoted to poetry.
Why Does God Need a Gun? published by Masobe Books, was selected from 223 poetry entries submitted for the 2026 edition of the literature prize.
The competition was reduced to an 11-title longlist in July before Mr Ifowodo, James Ngwu Eze and Tares Oburumu emerged as the three finalists in August.
Mr Eze was shortlisted for Unbind Me Now, while Mr Oburumu reached the final stage with Floral’s Love Colony.
The Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Literature, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, described Mr Ifowodo’s winning collection as a sensitive portrayal of religious and political violence in Nigeria, narrated through the voice of an imagined victim.
She said the three shortlisted collections demonstrated technical skill, confidence and a mature command of language while addressing issues that extended beyond Nigeria.
“Equally compelling is the conversation that unfolds across the three books. Though distinct in voice and style, they engage with related concerns: questions of identity and belonging; the promises and disappointments of nationhood; the consequences of extremism and displacement; and the enduring impact of conflict on individuals and communities,” she said.
“These are works deeply rooted in the Nigerian experience, yet they reach far beyond our borders.”
Mr Ifowodo’s poetry has consistently examined Nigeria’s political history, violence, displacement, memory and the human consequences of oppressive systems.
He previously reached the final stage of the prize in 2017 with A Good Mourning, when Ikeogu Oke won with The Heresiad.
Mr Ifowodo has also won multiple poetry prizes awarded by the Association of Nigerian Authors.
The two winning documentaries emerged from 98 submissions received for the inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts.
The competition was narrowed to five finalists whose documentaries explored the maiden edition’s theme, “Identity.”
The organisers recognised Beyond Tarkwa Bay and Mara Mania for documenting communities, preserving cultural memory and drawing attention to experiences that are often overlooked.
The Technical Adviser to the Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, Joel Kachi Benson, said the shortlisted documentaries demonstrated the film’s ability to challenge perceptions and deepen public understanding of society.
“These documentaries transported us into communities often unseen. They amplified voices too often unheard. They celebrate resilience, document culture, preserve memory, and reveal perspectives that enrich our understanding of who we are,” Mr Benson said.
The creative arts prize was introduced to recognise originality, authenticity and excellence in artistic expression. Its inaugural edition focused on documentary filmmaking.
The literature and creative arts results followed the September announcement of Mary-Brenda Akoda as the winner of the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.
Ms Akoda won with GenScan AI, also known as GenMRI/C-MORE, an artificial intelligence-powered solution designed to accelerate magnetic resonance imaging.
Her victory made her the first woman to win the science prize as an individual recipient. NLNG also described her as the prize’s first Generation Z winner.
Speaking at the ceremony, NLNG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Adeleye Falade said the Nigeria Prizes were established to recognise exceptional achievements and encourage work capable of contributing to societal development.
Mr Falade said the science and innovation prize had recognised contributions across health, agriculture, engineering, energy, technology, climate resilience and sustainable development.
“It has celebrated the ingenuity, dedication and brilliance of scientists whose work extends far beyond laboratories and research papers to deliver practical solutions that improve lives,” he said.
He added that Ms Akoda’s innovation had the potential to improve lives in Nigeria and elsewhere.
Mr Falade said the literature prize had developed into an important platform through which Nigerian writers could participate in international conversations about identity, resilience and humanity.
