Five young Nigerian filmmakers have emerged as finalists for the inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts (NPCA), advancing to the final stage of adjudication after a rigorous judging process.
The five documentary filmmakers were shortlisted on August 25, 2026, from an initial list of 11 nominees, bringing them one step closer to making history as the first winner of the prestigious creative arts prize.
The finalists are Peter Oghenetega Oke, Beyond Tarkwa Bay; Feranmi Abiola, Mara Mania; Ummi Bukar, No Food for Lazy Man; Abraham Ayodele Aiwuyuse, Okrika; and Jessica Chinyere, Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women.
The five shortlisted documentaries can be viewed through the official Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts platform.
The finalists emerged from the maiden edition of the NPCA, which attracted 98 submissions from young Nigerian creatives in response to the theme, “Identity.”
The theme challenged filmmakers to examine Nigeria, its people, communities, cultures and the evolving understanding of what it means to be Nigerian.
The progression from 98 entries to 11 nominees and now five finalists represents a significant milestone in the inaugural competition and highlights the depth of emerging creative talent in Nigeria.
According to Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts was established by NLNG in 2025 to identify, recognise and promote outstanding creative works by young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35.
She said the US$20,000 prize was designed to provide emerging documentary filmmakers with a platform to tell original Nigerian stories while gaining national and international visibility for their work.
The five finalist documentaries offer different perspectives on the Nigerian experience, reflecting the diversity, resilience and complexity of contemporary Nigerian society.
From the lives and experiences of women in Ebonyi to the realities of communities around Tarkwa Bay and the cultural character of Okrika, the selected works demonstrate the ability of young Nigerian filmmakers to explore identity through personal, social and community-based narratives.
The shortlist also reinforces the growing confidence among Nigeria’s emerging filmmakers to tell authentic Nigerian stories from their own perspectives, while addressing issues that resonate both locally and internationally.
Speaking on the quality of entries and the progression of the competition, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chairperson of the Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, said the submissions demonstrated the depth of Nigeria’s emerging creative talent.
She noted that the works showed the capacity of young filmmakers to engage thoughtfully and creatively with the country’s diverse stories and experiences.
With the field now reduced to five finalists, attention will shift to the final phase of adjudication.
The winner of the inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is expected to be announced at NLNG’s Grand Award Night in October 2026.
The winning documentary will make history as the first recipient of the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, marking a new chapter in the recognition and promotion of Nigeria’s emerging creative talents.
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