Nigerian NewsDirect has unveiled the two poets selected for the 2025 Folorunsho Editor’s Poetry Prize, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing emerging literary voices across the country. The annual prize, curated through the newspaper’s weekly Poetry Column, recognises originality, craft, and artistic promise among poets previously published in the Column.
Muhammad Ubandoma and Joemario Umana were named the 2025 winners at the NewsDirect 15th Anniversary & Awards Ceremony, where the announcement formed part of the commemorations marking the organisation’s milestone year. Their works stood out for their clarity of expression, depth of imagery, and confident approach to contemporary themes.
Each poet will receive a cash award of ₦200,000, further underscoring NewsDirect’s determination to invest meaningfully in young creatives.
The Folorunsho Editor’s Poetry Prize is named in honour of Founding Publisher, Late Dr Samuel Folorunsho Ibiyemi, a guiding figure in NewsDirect’s editorial vision whose long-standing dedication to journalistic excellence and cultural development helped shape the newspaper’s identity. The prize reflects his belief that literary expression is essential to societal growth, and it reinforces NewsDirect’s responsibility to cultivate new Nigerian voices.
Since its inception, the prize has continued to spotlight exceptional poets drawn from the weekly Column. Previous recipients include the 2024 winners Samuel A. Betiku and Marvellous Igwe, and the inaugural 2023 laureates Zaynab Bobi and Emmanuel Mgbabor. Their successive achievements have positioned the prize as a reliable platform for identifying powerful emerging talent.
Nigerian NewsDirect extends congratulations to Muhammad Ubandoma and Joemario Umana, along with appreciation to all poets who contributed to the Poetry Column throughout the year. The organisation continues to widen its platforms for literary development and anticipates an even broader range of submissions in the years ahead.
