Stories From Nigeria 2026 Writing Competition Offers ₦450,000 in Cash Prizes

Stories From Nigeria has opened applications for its third annual writing competition, inviting Nigerian writers to share original stories about contemporary Nigeria through five themes: Justice, Healthcare, Social Reform, Education and Entrepreneurship.

Eligibility Requirements

The competition is open to:

• Nigerian citizens aged 16–35.
• Nigerians living in the country or in the diaspora.
• Secondary and tertiary students, early-career professionals and emerging writers.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must submit an original, unpublished short story, poem or essay of no more than 750 words.

Entries must be written in English. Submissions in indigenous Nigerian languages are also accepted, provided an English translation is included in the same document.

Manuscripts should use Arial, size 11, with 1.5 line spacing.

Prizes

• First place: ₦200,000.
• Second place: ₦150,000.
• Third place: ₦100,000.

Each winner will also receive an interview feature on Stories From Nigeria.

Application Deadline:

November 12, 2026.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official competition page and choose one of the five themes.
2. Prepare an original story, poem or essay of no more than 750 words.
3. Format your work according to the submission guidelines and save it as a Word document.
4. Visit the application portal and upload your entry.
5. Upload a clear photograph of yourself and complete the required eligibility and originality confirmations before submitting.

Entries must be Word documents not exceeding 2 MB. The photograph is submitted separately from the writing entry.

Important Dates:

• Submission deadline: November 12, 2026.
• Judging ends: November 30, 2026.
• Winners announced: December 7, 2026.

Official Competition Information:

https://storiesfromnigeria.org/competition/

Application Portal:

https://storiesfromnigeria.org/submissions/