By Eva Irewole
The Advisory Boards for the Nigeria Prize for Science, Literature and Literary Criticism have called for entries for the 2023 edition of the prizes, flagging off this year’s competitions.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Andy Odeh, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at Nigeria LNG Ltd. (NLNG).
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the statement said the Nigeria Prizes for Science and Literature sponsored by the NLNG, now in the 19th year, had a cash prize of $100,000 each.
It added that the Prize for Literary Criticism would be $10,000.
It said that the Science Prize, which recognised outstanding scientific achievements by Nigerians and non-Nigerians, would focus on innovation for enhancement of healthcare therapy this year.
The statement added that the Literature Prize, on the other hand, would focus on drama and honour the author of the best book by a Nigerian.
“The Literary Criticism Prize, which also aims to promote Nigerian Literature, will receive entries on works in literary criticism of Literature, especially critical essays on new writings in Nigerian Literature.
“The call for entries for the Literature prize and Literary Criticism will close on March 31, 2023 while the window for the science prize will close on April 30, 2023,” it said.
According to the statement, Prof. Ameh Akoh of Drama and Critical Theory at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi State, will chair the panel of judges for this year’s Literature and the Literary Criticism competition.
It said that other panel members included Prof. Osita Ezenwanebe of the Creative Arts at the University of Lagos and Dr Rasheedah Liman, from the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, among others .
According to the NLNG, winners of the Nigeria Prize for Literature and Literary Criticism, if any, will be announced at an award ceremony in October 2023 to commemorate the anniversary of the first LNG export from the NLNG’s Plant on Oct. 9, 1999.
It said that the science prize winner would be revealed earlier in the year.