The Nigeria Prizes For Science and Literature Spotlight AI, Digital Innovation, and Prose Literature in 2025 Edition
The Nigeria Prize for Science and The Nigeria Prize for Literature have officially opened submissions for their 2025 editions, with a strong focus on innovations that can drive national and global development. This year, the Science Prize seeks groundbreaking advancements in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Technologies, while the Literature Prize invites entries in Prose Fiction.
Highlighting the transformative power of AI, Professor Barth Nnaji, Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Science Prize, stated, “The rapid evolution of AI and digital technologies provides a unique opportunity for Nigeria and other developing nations to leapfrog traditional development trajectories. Our goal is to celebrate groundbreaking solutions that can directly impact Nigeria’s journey toward sustainable development.”
He further emphasized that AI is more than just a technological tool—it’s a game-changer capable of optimizing agriculture, enhancing public health infrastructure, and revolutionizing Nigeria’s digital economy. The Science Prize, valued at USD 100,000, is open to global scientists and innovators whose completed works showcase proof of concept and tangible social impact.
On the literary front, the 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature shifts its focus to Prose Fiction, inviting Nigerian authors worldwide to submit books published from 2022 onwards. Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chairperson of the Advisory Board for the Literature Prize, noted, “Prose literature is a mirror reflecting our society. Through storytelling, we find ways to understand our collective experiences and envision a better future.”
Since its inception in 2004, the Prose Fiction category has attracted a significant number of entries, with over 200 submissions recorded during the 2020/2021 cycle. Only four winning entries have emerged in this category, including:
- Yellow Yellow by Kaine Agary (2008)
- On Black Sisters’ Street by Chika Unigwe (2012)
- Season of Crimson Blossoms by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2016)
- The Son of the House by Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia (2021)
Complementing the Literature Prize is the Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism, which awards USD 10,000 for critical essays focusing on contemporary Nigerian literature, especially new prose writings.
Sophia Horsfall, General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, highlighted the broader significance of the 2025 prize cycle. She remarked that as the world transitions from the Industrial Age to the Intelligent Age, ICT, AI, and digital technologies offer innovative solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing challenges, driving economic growth and fostering sustainable development.
Through these prestigious prizes, NLNG continues to play a pivotal role in national development by promoting innovation, creativity, and ensuring that science and literature remain vital pillars in shaping Nigeria’s future.
Source: NLNG
