NIGERIAN STUDENTS POETRY PRIZE (NSPP) 2018 – THE LONGLIST

NIGERIAN STUDENTS POETRY PRIZE (NSPP) 2018 – THE LONGLIST

Poets in Nigeria (PIN) is pleased to announce the longlist for the 2018 edition of the Nigerian Students Poetry Prize (NSPP) which closed to submissions on 7^th March, 2018.  The longlisted entries are as follows:

• SLAVERY | Samuel Irusota (Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma)
• TWO SIDES OF HAKEEM | Ikeobi Samuel Chukwubuokem (University of Agriculture, Abeokuta)
• RED | Deborah Oluwakemi Selemon (University of Ibadan, Ibadan)
• COLOURS | Hauwa Saleh Abubakar (Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria)
• WE WILL BEAR NO MORE | Ihezue Somtochukwu Rodney (University of Benin, Ugbowo)
• BEAUTIFUL SAYS THE BLACK BOY | Nduka Benjamin Chinonye (University of Nigeria, Nsukka)
• AS DAYS | Ajoni Justinah Oluwabukola (University of Ibadan, Ibadan)
• PARDON FOR RAPE | Akinpelu David Olamide (Lagos State University, Ojo)
• WHEN A WOMAN WRITES | Badmus Firdaws Anisatullah (University of Ilorin, Ilorin)
• REMINISCE | Dennis Williams Uchechi (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife)
• HOW TO BREAK-LOOSE FROM THE BATTLEFIELD | Bayowa Ayomide Micheal (University of Ibadan, Ibadan)
• THIS AGONY MOTHER FEELS | Idowu Ebenezer Odeyemi (Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti)
• CHRONICLE OF LIFE’S BATTLES | Olajuwon Joseph Olumide (Yaba College of Technology)
• WORDS MY MOTHER TOLD ME |Oyekunle Ifeoluwa Peter (Federal University of Technology, Akure)
• WHAT’S THE “NIGERIAN” WORD FOR CHANGE? | Ayikpo Timothy (University of Ibadan, Ibadan)
• THUNDER | Ubi Ubi Ofem (Cross River University of Technology, Calabar)
• HERE, NOWHERE | Kester Kanayo Onyemaechi (University of Benin, Ugbowo)
• DEEP DREAMS | Iberiyenari Godstime Tamunofiri (Niger Delta University Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa)
• MOTHER DEAREST | Okoye Micah Oguguo (Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu)
• YET ANOTHER HEAD | Amagwula Nnenna Comfort (University of Lagos, Lagos)

Having reviewed a total of 464 poems to select the top 100 poems and top 20 poems as the longlist, the judging panel including Ismail Bala, Soji Cole, Hulya Yilmaz, Kukogho Iruesiri Samson and Saka Aliyu commented thus: “The entries are bold varieties of poems of anger, disillusionment, love, justice, quest, rustic and pastoral, vengeance, odes and one or two that are succint for epitaphs. Perhaps the shining light for most of the entries was the future they hold; the future to define the path of global creative writing through the creative combination of powerful evocative languages, connotative rythms, melodiuos lines and sentient cerebral energy – in other words, they are poems that sing to the ears yet bursting the skin with the very attention they seek.”

A shortlist of 10 poems will be announced on 15^th May, 2018 while the prize winners will be revealed at the NSPP Awards slated for 24^th May, 2018 at Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu.

Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom

Moderator, NSPP 2018