Pamilerin Jacob, Ernest Ogunyemi named judges for 2025 Gbemisola Adeoti Poetry Prize, OAU

The Association of Nigerian Authors, Obafemi Awolowo University chapter (ANA-OAU), has announced the opening of submissions for the 2025 Gbemisola Adeoti Poetry Prize. Poet and editor Pamilerin Jacob, alongside literary critic, author, and poet Ernest Ogunyemi, will serve as judges for this year’s edition.

Now in its second year, the prize was established to honour Professor Gbemisola Adeoti, a distinguished poet, critic, and scholar of literature, whose work continues to shape the Nigerian literary landscape. The competition is open to undergraduate students across Nigerian universities and offers a platform to spotlight emerging poetic voices.

The theme for the 2025 edition is “New Tongues,” encouraging original, inventive poetry that explores language, identity, and expression in bold and imaginative ways.

Submissions must be original, unpublished poems written in English, and should respond meaningfully to the year’s theme. The deadline for entry is 20 May 2025.

A total of ₦100,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the top three entries: First Prize: ₦50,000; Second Prize: ₦30,000; Third Prize: ₦20,000

Winners will be announced and celebrated at the forthcoming ANA-OAU Book and Arts Festival, where they will also present their poems to a live audience of peers, academics, and literary enthusiasts.

In a statement, the organisers said the prize is aimed at nurturing creative excellence among Nigeria’s student poets and preserving the legacy of Professor Adeoti’s lifelong dedication to literature and the arts.

Interested participants are encouraged to send their entries to [email protected]. All inquiries should be made through ANA-OAU’s official social media handles.