Winners: Pawners Paper Magazine and Intellectual Property Institute Nigeria Creative Competition

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Pawners Paper Magazine and Intellectual Property Institute Nigeria creative competition

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Pawners Paper Magazine and Intellectual Property Institute Nigeria creative competition. 

For each category, the winners will receive cash prizes of N30,000 each, while the runner ups will receive N20,000 each in addition to their works being published on the first issue of the Pawners Paper Magazine.

Judge’s Overview 

It has been an immerse pleasure going through the entire work submitted for this contest. Each submission was carefully assessed on the basis of quality, language, creativity, and adherence to the theme “Uncharted.” I sincerely regret that the Virtual Arts category had to be withdrawn, as the entries received did not sufficiently reflect the theme. In the nonfiction category, particular attention was also paid to factual accuracy, alongside originality, clarity of thought and societal impact.

The Poetry / Short Story category proved especially strong. The works that rose to the top did so not simply by referencing the theme, but by embodying it in bold, imaginative, and distinctive ways. Their uniqueness set them apart and gave the theme a new depth and understanding.

I must emphasize that we received a lot of breathtaking entries, and those not selected were by no means lacking in merit; rather, the final decisions came down to how effectively certain pieces combined creativity, quality, and alignment with the competition’s vision. Overall, the submissions were of a commendable standard and reflect the energy of the voices who engaged with this year’s theme.

Once again, it was a pleasure going through all these entries. Congratulations to our winners.

—Daniel Aôndona,

Feature Editor; Pawners Paper Magazine.

Poetry and Short Story Category 

The Journal of a Normal Girl — Oyindamola Oluwakemi Martins (Winner)

Chihiro — Rachael Madakan Dandi (Runner Up)

Review and Essay Category 

Technology and the Nigerian Child: Navigating the Uncharted Future — Yahuza Usman (Winner)

God’s Lonely Hut: Love and Loss at the End of the Universe — Daniel Gauss (Runner Up)

Final Note:

All winners will receive a follow-up email with further details and instructions regarding the cash prizes and publication.