Two emerge winners of maiden Pius Oleghe Poetry Prize, pocket N2m

Two young Nigerian writers, Uzoigwe Miracle and Aremu Goodness Adejare, have emerged winners of the maiden edition of the Pius Oleghe Poetry and Literary Awards (POPALS), winning a combined N2 million in prize money for their outstanding poetic works.

Miracle won the Young Voices category, reserved for participants aged 12 to 17 years, while Adejare emerged winner of the Emerging Poets category for contestants between the ages of 18 and 35.

Each winner received a cash prize of N1 million, alongside publication opportunities, certificates of recognition, mentorship and other literary development benefits aimed at nurturing emerging talents.

The winners were selected after an extensive adjudication process by an independent panel of literary scholars, who assessed more than 145 entries submitted from across Nigeria and beyond.

The panel of judges comprised Professors Maria Ajima, Emmanuel Sule Egya, Chimalum Nwankwo, and Chike Okoye, as well as Dr Deji Ige.

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The competition was coordinated by renowned poet and former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Professor Remi Raji, alongside award-winning playwright Nnamdi Okose, who served as literary directors.

In a statement jointly signed by the literary directors, the organisers said the inaugural edition, themed “Nigeria of Our Dreams,” attracted impressive entries that reflected the creativity and intellectual depth of young Nigerian poets.

According to the statement, the quality of submissions reaffirmed poetry’s enduring relevance as a powerful medium for imagination, national reflection and hope for a better Nigeria.

The judges described Miracle’s winning entry in the Young Voices category as exceptional, citing its originality, creativity and impressive poetic craftsmanship.

Similarly, Adejare’s winning poem in the Emerging Poets category was praised for its artistic excellence and thoughtful interpretation of the competition’s theme.

The organisers also announced that shortlisted entries from both categories would be published in the inaugural Pius Oleghe Poetry Prize Anthology, showcasing some of the finest works submitted during the maiden edition of the competition.

They expressed appreciation to all participants, noting that the overwhelming response underscored the abundance of literary talent in Nigeria and the importance of creating more platforms to discover and support young writers.

The organising committee reaffirmed its commitment to identifying, nurturing and celebrating literary excellence while providing emerging poets with opportunities to reach wider audiences across Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world.

It also commended the panel of judges for their professionalism, diligence and integrity throughout the selection process, describing their contributions as instrumental to the successful debut of the awards.