Nigeria Newsdirect Releases The Winners' List For Its Poetry Prize 2021— Pawners Paper

Nigeria NewsDirect has released it's winners' list for it's Nigeria NewsDirect Poetry Prize with three poets emerging as the winners. Prasie Osawuru..

Nigeria NewsDirect Releases The Winners' List For Its Poetry Prize 2021

Few months after the submission ended for the Nigeria Newsdirect Poetry Prize, which saw many writers compete for the cash prizes, The Coordinator of the competition released a long list of names of those who are likely to come out as a winner.

Eventually, the wait is over. The Nigeria Newsdirect announced the winners of the competition few days ago, which consists the names of the following writers along with their names.

First Place (N70,000): Chidera Ihekereleome-Okorie – BLOOM

Second Place (N50,000): Praise Osawaru – MONOLOGUE BEHIND A BOLTED DOOR, SOMEWHERE IN IKORODU

Third Place (N30,000): Ọbáfẹ́mi Thanni – LET ME

Here are the names of the finalist:

Chiemeziem Everest Udochukwu – A REPLY TO THE NEWEST EMAIL IN MY INBOX

Olaitan Humble – HAIL MARY

Joshua Morley – THE ROOT OF THINGS

Ujiogba Sharon Moyinoluwa – RIGHT BEFORE A WHOLESOME WEEKEND

Ehi-kowochio Ogwiji – WHY MY BREASTS ARE CRADLED ON A CHEST THAT IS SLIGHTLY TOO BROAD FOR A WOMAN

Oluwatobi Ezekiel Poroye – CITY OF RUINS

Joy Mamudu – ONCE UPON A MORNING WALK

Ọlákìtán T. Aládéṣuyì – SINNER, LOVER RIGHTEOUS

Erhu Kome – WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FAT

OLALEKAN Daniel Kehinde – NEWSPAPER HEADLINE ON A SUNDAY

Aiyejinna Abraham Oshokunofa – THE ATLANTIC IS A POT OF TEARS

Efe Ogufere – REFRACTION

Ruth Adaeze Ikonne – WE ARE HERDSMEN

Ojo Taiye – SWANNED GIRLS, LONG GONE

Anuoluwa Soneye – HERE, SILENCE IS GOD’S COMMANDMENT

Ebube Udeoba – A BOY IS SUCH A FRAGILE THING

Adetutu Adediran – READING LUCILLE CLIFTON

The Nigerian NewsDirect Poet announces the winner, Chidera Ihekereleome-Okorie as their Poet Laureate. Here are some other things attached to being Nigeria Newsdirect Poet Laureate;

The first place winner of the prize is automatically appointed to the role of Nigerian NewsDirect Poet Laureate, and is expected to play an advisory role to the organization in all things poetry. A year tenure beginning from the date of this announcement.

There is an additional lump sum of N50,000 to be paid to the Poet Laureate in September. 

The roles of the Poet Laureate include:

1.  Advise the organization on all things poetry.
2. Suggest or carry out a project in conjunction with our Poetry Column (the type of project is subject to the Laureate’s discretion).
3. Take control of the PoetLaureateNND social media handle for the next one year. (Twitter and Instagram)
4. Partake in, at least, one poetry reading (virtual or in-person), to be organized by Nigerian NewsDirect, during their tenure.

A chapbook containing the poems of Winners & Finalists will be released in April.

Congratulations to the winners!

Directory

Directory