The Nigerian Students Poetry Prize (NSPP) is an initiative of Poets in Nigeria (PIN) instituted in 2016 to stimulate literary creativity and excellence amongst Nigerian Undergraduates. In line with the aforementioned, the Prize had successfully rewarded all top 3 entrants of the past four editions with a total sum of over One Million (N1,000,000) Naira alongside the annual publication of four hundred poems of exceptional student-entrants in the following anthologies entitled:
- The Sun Will Rise Again (2016)
- Mixed History (2017)
- Deep Dreams (2018)
- Micah (2019)
Going by win-win feats achieved via partnership between the town and gown since inception, the NSPP awards ceremonies had been hosted by the following tertiary institutions – University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Enugu Campus), Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu and Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa. Consequently, all outstanding students were deservedly celebrated and rewarded accordingly.
In spite of our ground-breaking efforts, we are poised to push up this path, and truly realise our goal of giving a befitting monetary reward to the winners of the prize whilst discovering and projecting more young credible voices.
Currently, the total cash prize for the NSPP is Three Hundred Thousand (N300,000) Naira, which we plan to up to Two Million (N2,000,000) Naira only in 2020.
Based on the foregoing, we call on literary minds and well-meaning individuals to please, make financial donations to the prize for a period of five (5) years. Endowing an amount will not only secure the continuity of the Initiative but make literary engagements an appealing venture for young Nigerians, thereby positively engaging them for national development.
Remarkably, Francis Olo (Golfer) and Teresa Oyibo Ameh (Aunty Talatu Reads) had previously sponsored the prize while Mrs. Dupe Sekoni McCarthy, Dr. Francis Ololo and Dr. (Mrs) Liz Ben- Iheanacho respectively, also support the prize.
Building on the above, 2019 edition of NSPP was supported by Messrs. Sandison Jumbo and Adowei Ebiekeme who endowed the fourth and fifth positions of the prize with the sum of N50,000 each.
In view of upping the overall prize money and for confidence-planning, we are calling on lovers of literature within Nigeria and the Diaspora to please support or endow the Nigerian Students Poetry Prize (NSPP) with a minimum of N20,000 over a period of five (5) years backed up by an agreement. All supports would be well documented and appreciated accordingly.
Please follow this link to progress on the subject: https://paystack.com/pay/supportnspp or make a donation via our bank account: POETS IN NIGERIA INITIATIVE | 0759986028 | Access Bank.
Please, you may also reach out to us via email – [email protected] or call 07034847164/08100091750 for a formal expression of your intention.
Best wishes as we look forward to your responses.
Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom
(Moderator, NSPP)
Executive Secretary, PIN Initiative