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Author of "The Road Does Not End", Olubunmi Familoni
Author of “The Road Does Not End”, Olubunmi Familoni, has been named the winner of the 2024 Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited.
The announcement was made at the Grand Award Night held at Eko Hotel, Lagos, on Friday evening.
Familoni, whose book addresses the pressing issue of child labour in society, was one of three finalists in this year’s competition, which comes with a cash prize of $100,000.
“The Road Does Not End” delves into themes of resilience, human connection, and the ongoing pursuit of self-improvement.
Speaking about the book, the Chairperson of the Advisory Board, Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, remarked, “The Road Does Not End addresses critical social issues, particularly child labour, and explores the importance of relationships and personal growth. The book shows how resilience can help overcome societal challenges.”
The two other shortlisted works were “A Father’s Pride” by Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmo and “Wish Maker” by Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike.
This year’s prize focused on children’s literature, highlighting stories that shape young minds.
The Advisory Board had earlier released a longlist of 11 selected works in July 2024.
Speaking about the selection process, Adimora-Ezeigbo emphasized, “We prioritised excellence and the impact the shortlisted books could have on young Nigerians.
“This prize is not just about literary merit but also about the messages that resonate with the future generation.”
This year’s panel of judges, led by Professor Saleh Abdu of the Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, also included Professor Vicky Sylvester and Dr. Osarobu Igudia.
Reflecting on the quality of the submissions, Abdu noted, “Children’s literature requires a careful balance of creativity and moral value, and the works we selected exemplify this balance.”
However, it was announced that there would be no winner for the Literary Criticism category this year.
