By Chioma Obinagwam
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has unveiled The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, a new initiative aimed at empowering young Nigerians aged 18 to 35 to produce documentary films that redefine the nation’s global image through storytelling, creativity, and visual excellence.
Announced at a press conference in Lagos, Confiance News gathered that the prize forms a fresh category under NLNG’s longstanding The Nigeria Prizes umbrella, joining The Nigeria Prize for Science and The Nigeria Prize for Literature. Entries will open in February 2026, with the cycle concluding in October 2026 at a Grand Award Night sponsored by NLNG. The winner will receive $20,000.
Sophia Horsfall, NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, described the prize as a platform for youth to “own their narrative” and showcase Nigeria’s complexity, brilliance, and resilience.
”The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is an invitation for young Nigerians to show the world our complexity, our brilliance, and our resilience through film,” Horsfall said. “This prize symbolises NLNG’s belief that storytelling is nation-building—that every frame, every voice, and every perspective matters in shaping who we are and who we aspire to be.”
She highlighted how the initiative connects Nigeria’s vibrant youth demographic with the creative industry, fostering global unity and understanding.
Confiance News learnt that the new category will be administered by the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, chaired by Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo. Supporting her are Emeritus Professor Olu Obafemi and Professor Ahmed Yerima.
Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo called the launch a “significant milestone” in NLNG’s more than two-decade commitment to excellence across disciplines.
”The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is a reaffirmation of our belief that excellence knows no boundary. It can be written, spoken, or filmed. It asks its creators to confront truth, explore memory, and translate experience into meaning,” she stated, noting alignment with the prizes’ strategy to reward outstanding achievement.
Joel Benson, an Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker and Technical Advisor to the Advisory Board, said the prize will adhere to international film festival standards, enabling winners to compete globally. He emphasized providing a stage for Nigeria’s youthful creative energy.
For the inaugural edition, only short documentaries up to 20 minutes will be accepted. Entries will be evaluated on storytelling craft, originality, production quality, creativity, and other criteria.
The judging panel will be led by Dr. Sam Dede, a veteran actor, director, and senior lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt. Panelists include Adeola Aderonke, an award-winning film director, art historian, scriptwriter, and producer; and George Ugwuja, a renowned film producer known for high-quality work with international organizations.
Confiance News reports that the prize underscores NLNG’s broader efforts to nurture creative talent as a pillar of national development.
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