INTRODUCTION
Nigerian Students Poetry Prize (NSPP) is an initiative of Poets in Nigeria (PIN) aimed at stimulating literary creativity and encouraging critical thinking among Nigerian undergraduates. Since its inception in 2016 at the University of Ibadan, the prize has received about 2500 entries from students representing over 100 tertiary institutions (including universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, schools of nursing and seminary schools).
Reputed as the foremost poetry prize for Nigerian students, the NSPP has awarded over a million Naira (1,000,000) to winning entrants and published 400 poems authored by selected student-poets in four anthologies: The Sun Will Rise Again (2016), Mixed History (2017), Deep Dreams (2018) and Micah (2019).
Notably, tertiary institutions such as University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu and Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa hosted the NSPP Awards in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Previous grand prize winners of the NSPP include Noah Oladele (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; 2016), Bakre Fadil Adedamola (University of Ibadan; 2017), Godstime Tamunofiri Iberiyenari (Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa; 2018) and Ogugua Micah Okoye (Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu; 2019).
The fifth edition of the Nigerian Students Poetry Prize (NSPP) opens for submission between 15th January and 31st March, 2020. Interested Nigerian undergraduates are expected to submit a 30-line poem on any theme of their choice before the deadline.
PRIZES
Aside rewarding the prize winners (top three entrants) with a total cash prize of ₦500,000, the top 100 entrants will each receive a certificate of excellence and complimentary copy of the NSPP anthology which features their works.
- 1st Prize – ₦250,000
- 2nd Prize – ₦150,000
- 3rd Prize – ₦100,000
- Consolation Prize – ₦25,000 each for 4th and 5th best entrants
ELIGIBILITY
- Open to all Nigerian undergraduates studying in Nigeria and the diaspora
- Entrants must be from a recognized tertiary institution
GUIDELINES
- Submissions are to be made at http://nspp.poetsinnigeria.org.ng, with strict adherence to the instructions thereon.
- Poems must be original intellectual property of the entrants.
- An entrant is entitled to a single entry of 30 lines maximum.
- No fixed themes. Entrants can write on any relevant theme.
- Entries submitted must be previously unpublished. A submission discovered to have defaulted on this rule will be automatically voided.
- All entrants are expected to purchase a minimum of one of the four NSPP anthologies uploaded on the submission portal.
- Under no condition will the judges’ unanimous decisions be challenged.
- Entering for the contest gives PIN automatic right to make use of entries as deemed appropriate.
- Entries must be written in English. Native terminologies must be translated in English as footnotes.
- Entrants should subscribe to for regular updates.
For enquiries, contact the moderator – Phone: +2347034847164; Email: [email protected].
Submission Deadline: 31st March, 2020
Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom
Moderator, NSPP 2020
How can I contest in the quiz
Please, read the guidelines.
i was unable to pay the #500 for the submission
Good day
Is it that we can just write on any theme ?
Please i need further clarification on this how can i make this payments and what is the mode or medium of payments.All entrants are expected to purchase a minimum of one of the four NSPP anthologies uploaded on the submission portal.
I have made payment for one of the books already and I’m still not able to make my submission. Please come to my aid
Its not sending, the poem
Good evening.
My poem is under 30 lines, but keeps refusing to send, even though I’ve paid and filled in the rest of the bio
Make sure the image you are trying to upload does not exceed 1MB.
Can I submit a poem that is not up to thirty lines?
I also need to know if there’s another means through which I could pay for the anthology. Thank you.
Good morning Sir or ma,after submitting my poem I came to realize there’s a typographical error at the latter end of the poem,how much damage can that cost?
when will the results for this be out please?
I haven’t gotten any update on it and I think we should be aware so we know where we stand, and also try to announce the winners to us via email so we can know also rather than keeping us in the dark just like last year. My suggestion though.
Is the competition still on??,how do I apply for the competition?
Are you still open?