Five Nigerian Documentaries Battle For History In Maiden Creative Arts Prize
Five Young Filmmakers Vie for History as Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts Names Finalists
THE inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts has entered its decisive stage, with five documentary filmmakers emerging as finalists from an initial field of 98 submissions.
The shortlist, announced on 25 August 2026, brings the filmmakers one step closer to winning the maiden award and its $20,000 prize.
Identity at the Heart of Competition
The five finalists are Peter Oghenetega Oke, with Beyond Tarkwa Bay; Feranmi Abiola, with Mara Mania; Ummi Bukar, with No Food for Lazy Man; Abraham Ayodele Aiwuyuse, with Okrika; and Jessica Chinyere, with Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women.
Their films respond to the inaugural theme, “Identity,” which challenged young creatives to examine Nigeria through its people, cultures, communities and evolving social experiences.
As a result, the shortlisted documentaries present varied interpretations of contemporary Nigeria. They examine communities, individual experiences, cultural identity and the resilience of people confronting social and economic realities.
From 98 Entries to Five Finalists
The finalists survived a competitive selection process that initially produced 11 nominees before the judging panel made the final cut.
The development highlights the growing pool of young Nigerian filmmakers capable of producing documentaries rooted in local experiences while addressing issues with wider social relevance.
The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, established in 2025 and sponsored by NLNG, targets Nigerian creatives between 18 and 35 years. Beyond the financial reward, the initiative seeks to provide emerging artists with a platform for greater visibility and recognition.
Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chairperson of the prize’s Advisory Board, praised the quality and diversity of the submissions. She said the entries demonstrated the depth of creative talent emerging from Nigeria.
Creative Storytelling as National Identity
The five documentaries collectively demonstrate how young filmmakers are using the documentary form to preserve experiences, question social realities and reinterpret Nigerian identity.
Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women, for instance, turns attention to the experiences and strength of women in Ebonyi, while Beyond Tarkwa Bay explores life around one of Lagos’s best-known waterfront communities.
Okrika similarly examines a distinctive Nigerian community, while the remaining shortlisted films bring other personal and social dimensions to the broader question of identity.
Together, the works reinforce the idea that Nigeria’s story cannot be reduced to a single experience or narrative.
Winner to Emerge in October
The final adjudication will determine the first-ever recipient of the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts. The winner is expected to be announced at the NLNG Grand Award Night in October 2026.
For the filmmakers, the final stage represents more than a competition for prize money. It offers an opportunity to establish themselves within Nigeria’s increasingly influential creative and documentary filmmaking landscape.
The 11 nominees had included Mi Tazi, Àkúdàáyà, Arugba: The Weight of Purity, Argungu Fishing Festival, Calabar My Calabar and Far From Home, but those works did not advance to the final five.
The five shortlisted documentaries are available through the official Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts shortlist portal.
