Enugu poet James Ngwu Eze has described being named among the final three for the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature as a moment of 'relief, disbelief' and 'validation,' even though the $100,000 prize sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) remains unannounced. Eze’s third collection, Unbind Me Now (Masobe Books), shares the shortlist with Ogaga Ifowodo’s Why Does God Need a Gun? and Tares Oburumu’s Flora’s Love Colony, selected from 223 entries and an 11-book longlist. The prize, set to be revealed on 9 October, has already sparked significant attention, with Eze stating, 'I feel immense validation. I feel noticed. I feel seen.'
Eze’s recognition follows his designation as 'The People’s Poet' by the English Department of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University on 11 February 2026, following a reading of his debut work, Dispossessed. The prize advisory board praised Unbind Me Now for its 'fluid and aesthetically captivating language' and its thematic shift from 'sociopolitical dysfunction toward redemption.' Eze emphasized that the collection deliberately weaves 'layers of hope' into its poems, reflecting his belief in 'a bold and courageous rise to the tongue of the inferno.' His previous work, Dispossessed, was longlisted for the same prize in 2022 and won the Association of Nigerian Authors Poetry Prize in 2020.
The shortlisting underscores the growing prominence of Nigerian poetry in national literary discourse, with NLNG’s prize—Africa’s richest for literature—serving as a critical platform for emerging and established voices. Eze, who has consistently rejected the notion of defeat, stated, 'I don’t go into any contest with the slightest thought of not winning.' Even if Unbind Me Now does not claim the top honor, he envisions it as 'a watershed in Nigeria’s contemporary poetry' and 'the book whose impact rang the loudest in recent memory.' The prize’s announcement will further shape perceptions of literary excellence in the country’s creative landscape.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature, now in its 20th year, remains a pivotal marker of literary achievement, with its $100,000 award attracting widespread scrutiny and anticipation. Eze’s journey—from being longlisted in 2022 to now competing for the top prize—highlights the evolving narratives in Nigerian poetry, where themes of resilience and societal reflection dominate. As the 9 October deadline approaches, the outcome will not only determine the recipient but also reinforce the prize’s role in elevating literary voices across Africa.