Olubunmi Familoni, author of *The Road Does Not End*, has been named the winner of the 2024 Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited. The prestigious award, which carries a cash prize of $100,000, was announced during the Grand Award Night at Eko Hotel, Lagos, on Friday.
Familoni’s winning book, *The Road Does Not End*, sheds light on the critical issue of child labour and explores themes of resilience, human connection, and personal growth. Speaking on the book, Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Chairperson of the Advisory Board, praised its exploration of societal challenges and personal triumphs, noting that it emphasizes how resilience can help individuals overcome adversity.
The other two finalists for this year’s prize, which focused on children’s literature, were *A Father’s Pride* by Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmo and *Wish Maker* by Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike. This year’s competition highlighted the importance of stories that shape young minds and contribute to their development.
In her remarks, Adimora-Ezeigbo emphasized the careful consideration of literary merit and the messages that could inspire young Nigerians. “This prize is not just about literary excellence but also about the impact these stories will have on the future generation,” she stated.
The panel of judges for the 2024 edition, led by Professor Saleh Abdu of the Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, included Professor Vicky Sylvester and Dr. Osarobu Igudia. They noted the strong balance between creativity and moral value in the selected works, with Abdu highlighting the quality of this year’s submissions.
However, the Literary Criticism category did not produce a winner for this year, as announced by the Advisory Board.
