The Nigerian literary scene is celebrating the announcement that Dr. Okwudiri Anasiudu, a distinguished lecturer in English Studies at the University of Port Harcourt (Uniport), has been named the winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism 2025. The prestigious annual award, sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), comes with a cash prize of $10,000.
Dr. Anasiudu was honored for his exceptional and insightful critical writing, which aims to deepen the understanding of Nigerian and African literature. His victory was the culmination of dedicated scholarly work, with his winning entries praised by the judges for their originality and intellectual depth.
The winning essays that secured his win are:
Afropolitan Identity and Afrodiasporic Otherness in Selected African Novels
Allegorical Conjectures in Helon Habila’s Measuring Time
Mimetic Designs in Helon Habila’s Oil on Water
Through his analyses, Dr. Anasiudu skillfully tackled complex themes such as identity, allegory, and representation within modern African writing.
His work shows the vital role of literary criticism in connecting written stories to the broader realities of the human experience.
A celebratory ceremony was recently held in Lagos State, with Uniport’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Owunari Georgewill, in attendance to honor Dr. Anasiudu’s achievement.
The win not only brings honor to Dr. Anasiudu but also reaffirms the significant contribution of Uniport and the importance of critical thought within Nigeria’s intellectual community.
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