Deadline: 31 July 2025
Entries are now open for the Joe Ushie Poetry Prize to celebrate the transformative power of poetry as a vehicle for expression, connection and change.
The Prize honors emerging and established poets for artistic excellence and social commitment in their art. Their mission is to cultivate a vibrant community of poets and provide a platform for diverse voices.
Prize Information
- The Prize money is $500 (USD).
Eligibility Criteria
- Entrants must be at least 18 years old at the time of submission.
- Entrants must be Nigerian citizens, and must submit proof of citizenship in the form of their international passport data page or their national identity card, along with their entry.
- Entries must be original unpublished work not plagiarised or AI generated; poetry previously broadcast online is considered published.
- Each entry must not exceed fifty lines, and a maximum of three poems is allowed per entrant.
Ineligibility Criteria
- Family members and close friends of the organisers and judges are not allowed to enter.
- No entry will be permitted to be re-entered in any subsequent year, and no previous winner can re-enter for the prize.
Application Requirements
- Entries are to be made in English; however, few words from other languages are allowed as part of poetic license.
- Each entry must be accompanied by proof of Nigerian citizenship in the form of an international passport data page or a national ID card or NIN slip.
- Proof of citizenship must be a clear PDF copy showing critical information such as full name, place and date of birth, etc.
- The poems must be typed in 12 pts Times New Roman font and double spaced.
- Only PDF format is allowed for submission of documents.
For more information, visit The Joe Ushie Poetry Prize.
