LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has unveiled the inaugural longlist for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts (NPCA), with 11 emerging documentary filmmakers shortlisted from 98 entries for the maiden edition of the US$20,000 award.
The announcement marks a major milestone for the newly established prize, which seeks to discover, recognise and promote outstanding young Nigerian creatives through documentary storytelling.
Open to Nigerian filmmakers aged 18 to 35, the inaugural competition challenged participants to explore the theme “Identity”, using documentary films to tell compelling stories about Nigeria, its people, cultures, communities and the country’s evolving social identity.
The shortlisted filmmakers are now one stage away from becoming the first-ever recipient of the prestigious creative arts prize.
11 Documentary Filmmakers Make Inaugural Longlist
The nominees, listed in no particular order, are:
| Filmmaker | Documentary |
| Blessing Bulus | Mi Tazi |
| Jessica Chinyere | Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women |
| Unmi Bukar | No Food for Lazy Men |
| Dominic Fayenuwo | Àkúdàáyà |
| Tosin Keshinro | Arugba: The Weight of Purity |
| Ibrahim Khalil Bala | Argungu Fishing Festival |
| Peter Oghenetega | Beyond Tarkwa Bay |
| Joseph Okulaja | Calabar My Calabar |
| Feranmi Abiola | Mara Mania |
| Abraham Ayodele Aiwyuse | Okrika |
| Aimalohi Ojeamiran | Far From Home |
Announcing the longlist, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chair of the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, described the quality and diversity of submissions as evidence of Nigeria’s expanding pool of creative talent.
According to her, the 98 entries reflected growing confidence among young Nigerian filmmakers in documenting local stories that resonate with both national and global audiences.
She noted that the shortlisted documentaries present diverse perspectives on identity, exploring the cultures, histories, communities and lived experiences that define contemporary Nigeria.
“The documentaries collectively demonstrate the power of documentary filmmaking to preserve important narratives, deepen understanding and present the complexity of the Nigerian experience through the perspectives of a new generation,” she said.
Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo added that the strong response to the inaugural competition underscores the relevance of the Prize in nurturing Nigeria’s creative economy.
“For a maiden edition, 98 entries represent a strong vote of confidence in the Prize and in the ability of young Nigerians to tell their own stories. These 11 nominees earned their place in the next stage through compelling and thoughtful interpretations of the theme, ‘Identity’,” she said.
The 11 shortlisted documentaries will now proceed to the final stage of adjudication before the overall winner is announced at NLNG’s Grand Award Night scheduled for October 2026.
The winning filmmaker will become the first recipient of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, taking home the US$20,000 grand prize.
The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is a wholly sponsored initiative of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) designed to encourage excellence in documentary filmmaking while creating opportunities for emerging Nigerian creatives.
With a prize value of US$20,000, the initiative aims to provide young filmmakers with an international-standard platform to showcase authentic Nigerian stories, preserve cultural heritage and strengthen the country’s growing creative economy.
The launch of the Prize expands NLNG’s long-standing investments in education, literature and human capital development, reinforcing its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s creative industries and promoting cultural storytelling on the global stage.