It is the 20th anniversary of the Prize project, reputed as the biggest award for literature on the continent. The genre of focus for the year is Children Literature, and the three finalists have emerged from the 163 entries submitted for the competition, out of which 11 were longlisted and presented to the public in Lagos in early August
Delight Moses (Elliot Mary High School), author Olubunmi Familoni, Dr Sophia Horsefall, representing GM, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG), author Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmore, Koko Kalango, founder Rainbow Book Club, Chizorom Ogbuanu (Charles Dale Memorial College) and Barrister Ibelema Greene, who moderated the interactive session.
- Lead caption: The writers on the shortlist: Olubunmi Familoni and Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor, being interviewed by Delight Moses and Chizorom Ogbuanu while Ibelema Greene, in the centre, moderated the conversation. Uchechukwu Umezurike joined virtually from Canada. Obari Gomba, the 2023 NPL winner looks on.
THE three finalists in the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature were recently hosted to a BookFest by the Rainbow Book Club in collaboration with the NLNG, the promoters of the prize.
Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmore (Father’s Pride), Olubunmi Familoni (The Road Does Not End), and Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike (Wish Maker) – the three finalists had engagements with the literati and other residents of Port Harcourt, the UNESCO World Book Capital 2014.
It is the 20th anniversary of the Prize project, reputed as the biggest award for literature on the continent. The genre of focus for the year is Children Literature, and the three finalists have emerged from the 163 entries submitted for the competition, out of which 11 were longlisted and presented to the public in Lagos in early August.
The highlight of the Port Harcourt evening was an interview with the authors by 10-year-old Miss Divine Moses and 14-year-old Master Chizorom Ogbuanu, moderated by Ibeleme Greene, a Barrister and Policy Consultant, reported by Mrs Koko Kalango, founder of the Book Club.
Rainbow Book Club founder, Kalango, herself a writer, and director of the now rested Port Harcourt Book Festival, acknowledging the importance of Prize project, also highlighted the link between low early literacy rates, crime and underdevelopment.
Andy Odeh, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development of the NLNG, represented by Dr Sophia Horsefall, commended the Rainbow Book Club for producing the evet which has now become an annual gathering.
Guests, including Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ovy Chukwumah, school children, pop culture stars, representatives of youth groups, government, corporate organisations, civil society and the media, were treated to rich entertainment events, including, spoken word performances by 11-year-old Karena Okodo and her group as well as a dance-drama, One Language, by the Junior Active Playhouse, made up of children between the ages of 6 and 13; and a quiz around the NPL whose winners were rewarded.
Karena Okodo and other students of Victory Christian Academy in a spoken word performance
Junior Active Playhouse troupe performing ‘One Language’
Veteran actor Sam Dede with some of the students
Manager, Community Relations & Sustainable Development NLNG, Godson Dienye , Commissioner for Education Rivers State, Dr Ovy Chukwumah, Dr Sophia Horsefall representing the GM External Relations NLNG and Koko Kalango, Rainbow Book Club founder, at the Port Harcourt Bookfest: a reception for the Nigeria Prize for Literature finalists, organised by Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) and the Rainbow Book Club
