NLNG Unveils First-Ever Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts Longlist, 11 Young Filmmakers

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has unveiled the inaugural longlist for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts (NPCA), announcing 11 documentary films selected from 98 entries submitted for the maiden edition of the prestigious competition.
The announcement marks a major milestone in the newly established US$20,000 Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, an initiative designed to identify, nurture and celebrate outstanding young Nigerian creatives between the ages of 18 and 35.
For its inaugural edition, participants were invited to interpret the theme, “Identity,” through documentary storytelling that explores Nigeria, its people, cultures, communities and the country’s evolving sense of identity.
The unveiling places the filmmakers behind the 11 shortlisted documentaries one step closer to becoming the first-ever winner in the history of the Prize.
The longlisted documentaries, presented in no particular order, are:
Blessing Bulus – Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonvi’s Women
Jessica Chinyere
Unmi Bukar – No Food for Lazy Men
Dominic Fayenuwo – Akúdàáya
Tosin Keshinro – Arugba: The Weight of Purity
Ibrahim Khalil Bala – Argungu Fishing Festival
Peter Oghenetega – Beyond Tarkwa Bay
Joseph Okulaja – Calabar My Calabar
Feranmi Abiola – Mara Mania
Abraham Ayodele Aiwuyuse – Okrika
Aimalohi Ojeamiran – Far From Home
Announcing the longlist, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chair of the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, said the breadth and quality of the 98 submissions reinforced the view that Nigeria possesses a deep pool of emerging creative talent and that young filmmakers are increasingly confident in telling authentic Nigerian stories.
According to her, the shortlisted documentaries offer thoughtful and diverse interpretations of identity by engaging with the people, cultures, communities and lived experiences that shape contemporary Nigeria.
She added that, collectively, the documentaries demonstrate the power of documentary filmmaking to preserve important narratives, deepen public understanding and present the complexity of the Nigerian experience through the perspectives of a new generation.
“For a maiden edition, 98 entries represent a strong vote of confidence in the Prize and in the ability of young Nigerians to tell their own stories. These 11 nominees earned their place in the next stage through compelling and thoughtful interpretations of the theme, Identity,” Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo said.
The 11 documentaries will now advance to the next stage of adjudication ahead of the announcement of the inaugural winner during NLNG’s Grand Award Night in October 2026. The winning documentary will become the first work to receive The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, setting a benchmark for excellence in documentary filmmaking by young Nigerians.
The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is a wholly NLNG-sponsored initiative established to identify, recognise and promote outstanding creative works by young Nigerians. Valued at US$20,000, the Prize provides an important platform for emerging documentary filmmakers to showcase original Nigerian stories while gaining national recognition for their creativity and contribution to preserving the country’s cultural heritage.
The initiative further underscores NLNG’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s creative economy and inspiring a new generation of storytellers whose works reflect the nation’s diversity, resilience and identity.
The announcement was signed by Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Nigeria LNG Limited.