Adesiyan Pelumi has emerged winner of the 2025 Gbemisola Adeoti Poetry Prize, with Abdulrazaq Folarin and Flourish Joshua clinching second and third positions respectively. The prestigious award was presented during the ANA-OAU Book and Art Festival, held on June 14 at BOO-C Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) campus, Ile-Ife.
Now in its third edition, the Gbemisola Adeoti Poetry Prize is named after renowned scholar and poet, Professor Gbemisola Adeoti, and celebrates excellence in poetry among emerging Nigerian voices. The prize is curated and sponsored in honour of Professor Adeoti’s contributions to literary scholarship and poetic practice.
The festival, curated by Isaiah Adepoju and Joel Oyeleke, brought together over 200 students from five universities for a vibrant day of literary and artistic activities. Highlights of the event included live painting, a red carpet, a trade fair, book sales and giveaways, music and spoken word performances, face painting, and a cultural panel session.
This year’s panel discussion, titled New Tongues, explored the evolving intersections between Nigerian music and cultural expression. Panelists included FOJ (Festus Olamilekan Joyful), a saxophonist known for his Afro-jazz fusion style, and Cezie, a budding Fuji-fusion singer with tracks such as Busayo, Fujipiano, and Rili. The session was moderated by Adunni Pagiel.
Other featured guests at the event included Joy Adelabu, a fast-rising spoken word poet on the OAU campus; visual artist Paul Abikoye, who exhibited his works during the programme; and the ever-energetic performer, The Dynamic Hajia.
In attendance were Prince Abiodun Oloyede, Mr Muriola Awosemo, Professor Gbemisola Adeoti himself, and poet Pamilerin Jacob, who served as one of the judges for the prize, alongside writer and critic Ernest Ogunyemi.
Commenting on the prize, Pamilerin Jacob noted, “Choosing a winner wasn’t easy, but in the end, the winning poem stood out clearly to Ernest and me. It was a unanimous choice. Honestly, the range and depth of talent of the entries made me happy for the future of Nigerian poetry.”
The competition received 177 entries. From these, 23 poems were initially selected by a reading team, and a final shortlist of 10 poems was drawn up for adjudication.
The three winners, will be published in PoetryColumn-NND, continuing the prize’s tradition of amplifying young poetic voices in Nigeria’s literary landscape.