Nigerian poet, lawyer and activist Ogaga Ifowodo has emerged as the winner of the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature, receiving the $100,000 award for his poetry collection, ‘Why Does God Need a Gun?’
Ifowodo’s work was selected from 223 entries, with the prize’s Advisory Board commending the collection for its rich allegorical depiction of religious and political violence in Nigeria.
The board noted that the collection adopts a three-part structure centred on the body, mind and spirit to examine the forces shaping the complex realities of the world.
The winning entry beat two other shortlisted works, Unbind Me Now by James Ngwu Eze and Flora’s Love Colony by Tares Oburumu.
The award represents another major achievement in Ifowodo’s literary career, which encompasses poetry, scholarship, activism and public engagement, while further highlighting his contributions to Nigerian literature.
The 2026 edition of the prize focuses on poetry, following the award’s annual rotation among poetry, prose fiction, drama and children’s literature.
Now in its 22nd year, the Nigeria Prize for Literature is sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) to recognise exceptional literary works by Nigerian authors.
The $100,000 award remains one of the country’s most prestigious literary honours, celebrating outstanding writing and promoting Nigerian literature on the international stage.