Mai Nasara returns as guest of honour at the public presentation of the winner of the prize, organised by the Nigeria LNG. The event holds at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos - and will be attended by leading lights of Nigerian literature, including the "father" of modern-day Nigerian poetry Gabriel Okara and Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka.
"Obviously I am delighted to be coming back home to engage with the public and the literary community," Nasara said. "And I thank the
Nigeria LNG for this honour and for this platform. I am looking forward to getting home on Saturday and discussing the prize and the book on
Monday. This is a humbling experience for me."
Starting from 126 submissions from Nigerian authors of children's literature, 'The Missing Clock' made the shortlist, eventually beating
an intimidating six of some of the best children's authors in Africa. This shortlist included Ayodele Olofintuade and Chinyere Obi Obasi, and
Nasara won the coveted $100, 000 cash prize.
The novel explores the reversal of fortunes for a Nigerian family and how they grew to overcome their circumstances. In an earlier interview,
the author explained that he was inspired by the concept of a conservative traditional family. The author admonished families to work
on their personal and family histories as the first step towards changing the world.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature is rated the 22nd most valuable in the world. It is endowed by the Nigeria LNG, which also awards the Nigeria
Prize for Science annually.
The event will be shown on Monday on NTA and AIT and will also be streamed online via www.nlnglive.com at 10am.
9 comments:
I wonder how Nigerian writers make their money considering the fact that our reading culture is very poor.
congratulations leke.but y we nigerians dnt apreciate good things.
@kcee u'd be surprised. Your question should be, how many read Nigerian Literature? The new crop of writers are not as engaging, however, authors like Toni Kan, Helon Habila, Adichie hv carved out a niche for themselves.
My mom is a member of Association of Nigerian authors and usually come home with autographed copies by Nigerian authors. They're usually good
@kcee it's a pity that u still remain a caveman, be informed that ur notion about NIGERIANS regarding reading especially literature is quite wrong. We are not as backward as u think. Why dont u speak for itself? just confess dat ur 'reading culture is very poor'. And yes good Nigerian writers have good market in Nigeria. Sooo many fantastic African contemporary writers we have.
Congratulations to Mr. Adeyemi, I wonder what his pen name, Mai Nasara, means.
This is really encouraging. Thank God I'm a student of literature, I gotta sharpen my pencil and start scribbling all the stories in my head. I will win this award one day. Amen.
Congrats leke! am so proud to be a Nigerian. Good job man!
Mai Nasara means victor in the Hausa language.
congrats. You are an encouragement to upcoming writers, like me. This is the least you'll ever have IJN. Congrats once more.
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