By Emmanuel Onoja
Law Ikay Ezeh, one of the authors shortlisted for the the 2021 $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature (NPL) has said reading culture in Nigeria is quite poor despite the fact that there are good writers in the country.
The author of Your Church, My Shrine, said corporate organisations could help reverse the trend if they partner with writers as well as organize programmes to encourage reading.
Speaking during the Book Party organized by the Nigeria LNG Limited in partnership with Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) in Lagos at the weekend he called for concerted efforts to improve reading culture.
According to him, “A lot of writers have a lot to write but because of the challenges with publishing, they shelve their ideas. Government should assist writers by funding their publications as it is obtainable in overseas. In Nigeria, you pay publishers and do marketing yourself which is not easy.’’
Speaking at the event, the Corporate Affairs Manager of Nigeria LNG, Mrs Sophia Horsfall, thanked the authors for investing their time and resources to write and for submitting their entries while also urging Nigerians to read. According to her, over 200 entries were submitted but only 11 books were shortlisted after which a winner would emerge.
The programme held at Eko Hotel & Suites had the authors of the shortlisted books in attendance, including book lovers, artistes, among others. It featured book reading, presentation and dance drama.
The 11 novels shortlisted for the 18th NPL are:
- Delusion of Patriots– Obianuju V. Chukwuorji,
- Give Us Each Day– Samuel Monye,
- Imminent River – Anaele Ihuoma.
- In The Name of Our Father– Olukorede S. Yishau,
- Mountain of Yesterday– Tony Nwaka,
- Neglected– Lucy Chiamaka Okwuma.
- The Colours of Hatred– Obinna Udenwa,
- The Girl with The Louding Voice– Abi Dare,
- The Return of Half- Something– Chukwudi Eze,
- The Son of The House– Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia,
- Your Church, My Shrine– Law Ikay Ezeh
