Five young Nigerian filmmakers now stand a step away from making history as the first-ever winner of the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts (NPCA), after judges named them finalists on 25 August 2026 following a rigorous review that trimmed an initial list of 11 nominees.
The shortlisted documentaries are Beyond Tarkwa Bay by Peter Oghenetega Oke, Mara Mania by Feranmi Abiola, No Food for Lazy Man by Ummi Bukar, Okrika by Abraham Ayodele Aiwuyuse, and Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women by Jessica Chinyere. The works can be viewed at thenigeriaprizes.org/npca-shortlist-of-five-nominees.
NLNG’s Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that the finalists were drawn from 98 submissions received in the Prize’s maiden edition, all responding to the theme “Identity” — an invitation to explore Nigeria’s people, communities, cultures, and the evolving meaning of Nigerian identity.
According to the statement, their advancement from the original pool through the 11-nominee stage to the final five marks a major milestone in the inaugural competition.
Established in 2025 and sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts recognizes outstanding creative work by Nigerians aged 18 to 35. The US$20,000 award gives emerging documentary filmmakers a platform to tell original Nigerian stories and gain recognition both at home and abroad.
The five shortlisted films offer a wide-ranging portrait of contemporary Nigeria — from the resilience of women in Ebonyi to daily life around Tarkwa Bay and the character of Okrika — reflecting the depth and diversity of experience that defined this year’s submissions. Their selection also points to the growing confidence of Nigeria’s young filmmakers in telling their own stories.
Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chairperson of the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, said the quality and range of entries reflected the depth of Nigeria’s emerging creative talent and their thoughtful engagement with the nation’s stories.
Judging now moves to its final stage, with the winner to be announced at NLNG’s Grand Award Night in October 2026. The chosen documentary will become the first-ever recipient of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts.
