Nigeria LNG Limited on Friday launched the Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts 2026, a $20,000 award targeting young filmmakers aged 18 to 35 who craft short documentaries that celebrate Nigerian identity and challenge global stereotypes.

The initiative, part of NLNG’s broader commitment to excellence, opens for submissions in February, with winners to be announced in October.

The prize, administered by an advisory board chaired by Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo and including Emeritus Professor Olu Obafemi and Professor Ahmed Yerima, will spotlight entries under 20 minutes. Submissions will be judged on storytelling, originality, production quality, and impact. The jury will be led by veteran actor and University of Port Harcourt lecturer Dr. Sam Dede, alongside director Adeola Aderonke and producer George Ugwuja.

Speaking at the Lagos launch, NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, described the prize as a bridge between Nigeria’s vibrant youth and its creative sector. “This is an invitation for young Nigerians to own their narrative – to show our complexity, brilliance, and resilience through film,” she said. “Storytelling is nation-building; every frame matters in shaping who we are.”

The new prize joins NLNG’s long-running Nigeria Prizes for Science and Literature, expanding the company’s cultural footprint. Technical advisor Joel Benson, an Emmy-winning documentarian, emphasized the importance of global benchmarking to elevate winners onto international platforms. “Nigeria’s creative energy deserves a platform matching its ambition,” he said.

Entries must explore themes of identity and perception, aligning with NLNG’s vision for cultural diplomacy. Professor Ezeigbo called the initiative a milestone, noting, “Excellence knows no boundary – it can be written, spoken, or filmed, confronting truth and translating experience into meaning.”

As Nigeria’s film industry continues to surge, the prize arrives amid growing calls for youth empowerment and narrative ownership. NLNG will fund the grand award night, designed to spotlight emerging talent and amplify voices shaping the country’s cultural future.