Nigerian author Oyin Olugbile has won the 2025 Nigeria Prize for Literature for her debut novel, Sanya.
The announcement was made on Friday, October 10, 2025, during the NLNG Grand Award Night at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), is Africa’s most prestigious literary award and carries a cash prize of $100,000.
The 2025 edition focused on prose fiction under the theme “Inspire.”
Olugbile’s Sanya emerged victorious over two other shortlisted works: The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma and This Motherless Land by Nikki May.
The Advisory Board, chaired by Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, praised Sanya for its innovative retelling of Yoruba mythology, particularly its portrayal of the god Sango through a female lens.
Judges described the novel as “fascinating,” with an “unrelenting” pace and an intriguing plot that immediately captures the reader’s attention.
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Olugbile, a Nigerian-born author and cultural storyteller, reimagines African myths, matriarchal power, and spiritual memory in her works.
She holds a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos and a Master’s in Leadership and Development from King’s College London.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature continues to celebrate literary excellence, providing a platform for Nigerian authors to share their stories with the world.