…$100,000 prize for each winner
After a rigorous months-long judging process, Familoni Olubunmi has been selected as the winner of the 2024 Nigeria Prize for Literature from a shortlist of three books.
The author won for his book “The Road Does Not End.”
Olubunmi defeated two of the next three candidates. The winners were Ndidi Thiazor-Enenmo’s “A Father’s Pride” and Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike’s “Wish Maker.”
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His work won the grand prize of $100,000, ranking first out of 163 entries for this year’s award, which specializes in children’s literature.
Announcing the winners, Professor Akachi Adimola Ezeigbo, Chairman of the Awards Advisory Committee, commended the NLNG for maintaining the two awards, the Literary Award and the Science Award.
She revealed that there were no winners for this year’s Literary Criticism Award.
Explaining the rationale behind selecting Olubunmi’s novel as the winning book, the board and jury prioritized excellence in selecting the winning book and said they recognized the significant impact this award has on young Nigerians. emphasized.
“Familoni Orlanti Olubunmi’s The Road Does Not End addresses the critical issue of child labor in society. The book explores themes of resilience and relationships, and the importance of relationships. and emphasizes the need for continuous self-improvement,” she said.
The board praised its language, professionalism, subject matter, and careful editing.
In his acceptance speech, Olubunmi praised NLNG for creating an annual awards platform that has elevated literature and empowered many writers.
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Earlier in the evening, the 2024 Nigerian Prize for Science Advisory Committee announced the trio of Olajide Otitoju, Eni Oko and Professor Meihong Wang as the winners.
They won with an intensive research effort on process enhancement technology.
Another highlight of the event was the address by the Managing Director and CEO of Nigeria LNG Limited, Mr. Philip Musherbira, to the families of the late Emeritus Professor Umar Shehu and the late Professor Ladipo Ayodeji Banjo. The award was given posthumously, and the company said the person was genuine. Scholars who continue to live in the hearts that they nurtured during their lifetime.
Chikwe Ihekwazu, former Director-General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, delivered the keynote address and the NLNG unveiled its new logo at the conclusion of the awards ceremony.