Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has unveiled the first-ever nominees for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts (NPCA), with 11 documentary entries advancing from a pool of 98 submissions in the inaugural edition of the US$20,000 award.

Sponsored by NLNG, the newly introduced prize is open to Nigerian creatives between the ages of 18 and 35. For its maiden edition, participants were invited to interpret the theme, “Identity,” through documentary stories exploring Nigeria, its people, communities, cultures and the country’s evolving sense of identity.

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The unveiling places the filmmakers behind the 11 shortlisted documentaries one step closer to winning the award and becoming the first recipient in the history of The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts.

The longlisted documentaries are Mi Tazi by Blessing Bulus; Women of Salt: The Resilience of Ebonyi’s Women by Jessica Chinyere; No Food for Lazy Men by Unmi Bukar; Àkúdàáyà by Dominic Fayenuwo; Arugba: The Weight of Purity by Tosin Keshinro; Argungu Fishing Festival by Ibrahim Khalil Bala; Beyond Tarkwa Bay by Peter Oghenetega; Calabar My Calabar by Joseph Okulaja; Mara Mania by Feranmi Abiola; Okrika by Abraham Ayodele Aiwyuse; and Far From Home by Aimalohi Ojeamiran. The entries were announced in no particular order.

Announcing the longlist, Chair of the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, said the breadth and quality of the 98 submissions reinforced the view that Nigeria possesses a deep pool of emerging creative talent and that young filmmakers are increasingly confident in telling the country’s stories.

She noted that the documentaries offered thoughtful and diverse interpretations of identity by engaging with the people, cultures, communities and lived experiences that shape contemporary Nigeria. According to her, the works collectively demonstrate the power of documentary filmmaking to preserve important narratives, deepen understanding and present the complexity of the Nigerian experience through the perspectives of a new generation.

“For a maiden edition, 98 entries represent a strong vote of confidence in the Prize and in the ability of young Nigerians to tell their own stories. These 11 nominees earned their place in the next stage through compelling and thoughtful interpretations of the theme, ‘Identity,'” she said.

The 11 documentaries will now proceed to the next phase of adjudication ahead of the announcement of the winner at NLNG’s Grand Award Night in October 2026. The winning documentary will become the first work to receive The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts.

The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts is a wholly NLNG-sponsored initiative established to identify, recognise and promote outstanding creative work by young Nigerians. Valued at US$20,000, the prize provides a platform for emerging documentary filmmakers to present original Nigerian stories and receive national recognition for their work.

The statement announcing the longlist was signed by Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, NLNG.