By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
Okay.ngOkay.ngOkay.ng
Font ResizerAa
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Reading: Romeo Oriogun wins $100,000 NLNG Literature Prize for 2022
Share
Font ResizerAa
Okay.ngOkay.ng
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Search
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Follow US
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2022 - All rights reserved
FeaturedTop stories

Romeo Oriogun wins $100,000 NLNG Literature Prize for 2022

Farouk Mohammed
By Farouk Mohammed
Published: October 15, 2022
Share
8 Min Read
Romeo Oriogun
Romeo Oriogun
SHARE

The Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited, today announced Nomad, authored by the poet, Romeo Oriogun, as the winner of the $100,000 prize for the 2022 cycle on Poetry.

Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chairperson of the Advisory Board, made the announcement at the Grand Award Night ceremony in Lagos, themed “Touching the Stars”. She also announced Dr. Sakiru Adebayo as the 2022 winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism, which comes with One Million Naira (N1,000,000) prize money.

Minister of Science and Technology, Adeleke Mamora; Prize Advisory Board member, Professor Olu Obafemi; the Amanyanabo of Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III CON, JP, Perekule XI; NLNG’s Deputy MD, Olalekan Ogunleye; Su’eddie Agema, representative of the winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature; former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; NLNG’s MD, Dr. Philip Mshelbila; Advisory Board Chairman, Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo; Advisory Board member, Prof. Yerima Ahmed after the announcement of the 2022 winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literature at the NLNG Grand Award Night in Lagos...on Saturday.
Minister of Science and Technology, Adeleke Mamora; Prize Advisory Board member, Professor Olu Obafemi; the Amanyanabo of Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III CON, JP, Perekule XI; NLNG’s Deputy MD, Olalekan Ogunleye; Su’eddie Agema, representative of the winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature; former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; NLNG’s MD, Dr. Philip Mshelbila; Advisory Board Chairman, Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo; Advisory Board member, Prof. Yerima Ahmed after the announcement of the 2022 winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literature at the NLNG Grand Award Night in Lagos…on Saturday.

Four winners of The Nigeria Prize for Science were also jointly awarded the prize money of $100,000. Muhydideen Oyekunle and Shehu Ado, as well as Sesan Peter Ayodeji and Emmanuel Olatunji Olatomilola, won the prize for their respective works titled, Gains in Grain Yield of Released Maize (Zea Mays L.) Cultivars under Drought and Well-Watered Conditions, and Development of Process Plant for Plantain Flour.

The winners were awarded after the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR), in the keynote address stressed the critical roles science and literature play in national development. Chief Obasanjo said Nigeria could reach greatness through a strong will to change the prevailing narrative, adding “Nigeria is, as we all know, blessed beyond measure in talents, capabilities, and resources.”

- Advertisement -

“The world has always been fast spinning into areas of scientific breakthroughs and innovations that aim to maintain high standards of living, while sustainably preserving the earth for generations yet unborn. But now, more than ever, there is a sweeping tide of energy transition and climate change mandates, medical advancements and applications, food security interventions to combat hunger, as well as measures to sustain life on earth.

“Who is truly listening, and willing? Reaching and indeed, touching the stars which are light years away, is in retrospect, very much possible. In fact, there are several Nigerian citizens that occupy positions of merit, as global patriots. A national meteoritic rise can happen within the blink of an eye. Just like a space launch, a scientific breakthrough can shoot our nation to those seemingly unattainable heights where we can touch the stars.

“We can adopt world-class best practices, and leap with giant strides into the future. We can collaborate on exchanges of ideas and invest in research and development. We can focus on the education and mental development of our people so that we position the nation in the direction it should go.

“I speak to the political class, the administrators, business institutions and organisations, small and medium scale enterprises, the creatives and content developers, leaders across all spheres of influence, the man or woman whose heart burns with passion for Nigeria’s good, and to the boy or girl, who is discovering his or her talents and gifts. May we all rise to that place of willingness and do so, collectively,” he said.

- Advertisement -

In his welcome remarks, NLNG’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, said the Company sponsored the prizes to ensure that excellence takes a prominent position in creativity and innovation in the country.

Speaking on the 2022 theme of the science prize, Innovations in Sustainable Food Security, Dr. Mshelbila stated that the prize and the winners were a wake-up call for the country and Nigerians to take responsibility for food sustenance.

“From the mangroves of the Niger Delta, through the rain forests, to the grassy plains and savannah terrains, the nation pitifully boasts of poverty, yet it is bountifully endowed with arable lands and agricultural treasures. Including its aquatic wealth. This is a wake-up call! We must take responsibility for food sustenance, at the very least, and scale up to foreign exchange revenue drive from food/agriculture export once our people are assured of their daily meals. What’s more, we must shun wastages, arising from poor handling or preservation of agricultural produce,” he said. 

On literature, he stated that leading publishing experts indicate that poetry submissions have been unprecedented the world over. He stated further that the entries for the 2022 Nigeria Prize for Literature were the most ever in the history of the prize.

He said NLNG, as a world-class company, was actively seeking its place in the future, adding it is focused on gaining strength within the energy transition landscape.

“It really is the future of the world, and one for which NLNG should be rightly positioned, to bring Nigeria into that realm,” he stated.

The winning book beat two other books on the Shortlist of Three, the Call of Water by Su’eddie Vershima  Agemaand Your Crib, My Qibla by Saddiq Dzukogito clinch the prize. The book competed against 287 books submitted for the competition in 2022.

According to the judges, the winning book, Nomad, stands out as the most technically accomplished, rendering the topical subject of migration in a language laced with lyrical figurations. They stated that “the 67 poems in the collection were held together by a travel motif, marshalled in each poem with equal intensity, and linked to the African past, including the Middle Passage, and the African future.”

The panel of judges include Sule Emmanuel Egya, who is the Chairman of the panel and a professor of African Literature and Cultural Studies at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State. Other judges are Toyin Adewale-Gabriel and Dike Chukwumerije. Adewale-Gabriel is a poet and fiction writer. Dike Chukwumerije is a spoken word and performance poet, and an award-winning author. Professor Susan Nalugwa Kiguli was the International Consultant for this year’s Prize.  She is a Ugandan poet and an associate professor of literature at Makerere University.

Nigeria LNG Limited remains committed to responsible corporate citizenship, and The Nigeria Prize for Science, The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism are some of the company’s numerous contributions towards building a better Nigeria.

Stay Updated on the Go with Our Latest News—Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
TAGGED:NLNGNLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature 2022Romeo Oriogun
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Email Copy Link Print
ByFarouk Mohammed
Publisher
Follow:
Farouk Mohammed is a Head Editor at Okay Nigeria (Okay.ng). He has been publishing for 10 years and focused more on Local/World News on Okay.ng
Previous Article IMO Secretary-General Mr Kitack Lim (middle) embraces the NIMASA DG, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR, as Nigeria's Alternate Permanent Representative (APR) to the IMO, Abdul Dirisu looks on during World Maritime Day Parallel Event held in Durban, South Africa. Imo Secretary General, NIMASA DG join others for World Maritime Day parallel event in South Africa
Next Article Teni dedicates National Award to young girls, urges them to never stop dreaming

Connect with Okay on Social

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
TelegramFollow

Dollar/Naira Rates

Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate

Okay.ng Logo
Buy Rate ₦1,605.00
Sell Rate ₦1,620.00

Last updated: 5 days ago (June 3, 2025 2:33 pm)

Displayed rates are for informational purposes only and are subject to change.

USD/NGN Converter

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Recent Posts

Pastor Adeboye
Pastor Adeboye Shares Divine Directive: Leaving RCCG Could Lead to Tragic Loss
News
Anglican Bishop of Lafia Calls on President Tinubu to Address Root Causes of Nigeria’s Insecurity and Economic Woes
News
Egbe Bobakeye Okunrin Akile Ijebu Refutes False Claims About Queen Elizabeth II’s 1956 Visit
News
NRC Managing Director Warns Against Railway Vandalism: “We Don’t Have Scraps, We Have National Assets”
News
Tragic Head-On Collision in Jigawa Claims Nine Lives, Dozens Injured
News
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

You May Also Like

Sport

Victor Osimhen Returns to Nigeria as Al Hilal Transfer Hangs in Balance Ahead of FIFA Club World Cup

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 7, 2025
News

Tinubu Urged by PDP to Cut Fuel and Electricity Costs Amid Eid-el-Kabir Festivities

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 7, 2025
Mike Ejeagha
News

Mike Ejeagha, Nigerian Highlife Maestro, Dies at 95

Muhammad A. Aliyu
Muhammad A. Aliyu
June 7, 2025
Okay.ngOkay.ng
Follow US
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2025 - All rights reserved
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
adbanner
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?