By JAPHET ALAKAM
For millions of Nigeria youths who have at one time or the other felt discouraged to take to writing as a vocation, last week’s grand award of the prestigious Nigeria’s Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG  literature prize may have forced them to re-think their decision.

The eight year old prize instituted by the apex gas company to help boost creativity and scientific research interest  among Nigerian youths have over the years been reviewed to make it more attractive.

Originally billed to go for $20, 000 to the best winning entry for the year in  the chosen genre of the year, the prize, last year shot up to whooping $100,000 making it one of the most important literary prizes in the continent of Africa.

*From left: Prof. Wole Soyinka, special guest of honour with the winning book, Babs Omotowa, MD NLNG Ltd, Adeleke Adeyemi, 2011 Literature prize winner, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo and Mrs Abolore Adeyemi during the award ceremony. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Winning the much contested prize last year was former NEXT Newspaper journalist and writer, Adeleke Adeyemi, who goes with the pen name, Mai Nasara. He  won the coveted prize money with his Children’s literature entry titled; The Missing Clock.

The Missing Clock clinched the prize after scaling through  a rigorous screening exercise of a total of 126 entries received by a panel of judges headed by renowned serial award winning writer and gender scholar, Professor Akachi Adimora –Ezeigbo.

When Nasara’s entry successfully made the screening to the last six entries that was announced October last year, the announcement came to many people as a dream. A dream it indeed was. But it became a reality when last Monday the proud winner was presented with the award at a grand ceremony held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island .

It was indeed a moment of joy for Nigerians and indeed the world literary community who gathered at the venue to witness the great day especially secondary students from different schools as last year genre was dedicated to  children’s literature. The occasion was chaired by Prof. Ayo Banjo, while African literary giants; Noble Laureate Prof. Soyinka and Dr Gabriel Okara were Special Guests of honour.

With the honour, Mai Nasara,whose first children’s book, The Missing Clock beat all other contenders for the prize becomes the 8th recipient of the prize  instituted in 2004 by Nigeria LNG Limited as part of its corporate social responsibilities to  host communities In his remarks, Mr Babs Omotowa, who  performed his first official assignment as the new Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited highlighted some of the initiatives of the company towards the well being of Nigerians.

According to him, “the company gives much support to science and literature in order to promote national development because they believe that no nation can develop without science and technology.”

Continuing, he pointed out some of the reasons why the nation should pay attention to literature. Topmost among  which is to encourage more Nigerians to take to reading so that they may find the inner strength and the wisdom to cope with life in these tough times.

Omotowa further reminded the audience that the purpose of the gathering was to celebrate three worthy writers; Chinyere Obi- Obasi and Ayodele Olofintuade, the two runners up for the prize, and Adeleke Adeyemi, the eventual winner. He stated that by winning the prize, Adeyemi has joined the fast exclusive list of Nigeria laureates.

On the science prize which produced no winner, he regretted that despite nurturing front line scientists who have been able to hold their own in the world, the country is sliding backward.

Earlier in his speech, The chairman of the Advisory Board for the Nigerian Literature Prize, Prof. Banjo gave an overview of the prize, why it was instituted and how far it has gone. He stated that previously, the award were made at Gala Night hosted by Nigeria LNG, but that the gala night have been changed to an intellectual gathering that is hoped to  help winners address the audience in  their chosen subjects of interests.

On his part, the oldest writer in the house and a co-winner of the award in 2005, Dr Gabriel Okara said that with the award, Nigeria LNG has paid the most or best contribution to Nigeria and the whole of Africa. “I congratulate the vision of LNG as a corporate organisation in making the contribution to the development of the soul and mind of Nigerians.” He added.

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Soyinka who confessed that he tried to write children’s literature but never succeeded said that it was a pleasure to be at the event where a writer is celebrated for writing children’s literature. He then charged Nigerians to write children’s literature because it is marketable.

Speaking at the event, Mai Nasara said that  it was sheer hope that drove him to enter for the prize and thanked all, especially Nigeria LNG for the initiative. With the theme, Meet me at the Library, he explained the place of Libraries in the world of book.