UNIPORT Lecturer Dr. Okwudiri Anasiudu , Gets $10,000 as He Emerges Winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism

The world of Nigerian literature is once again aglow with celebration as Dr. Okwudiri Anasiudu, a distinguished scholar from English Studies, University of Port Harcourt, emerged as the winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism 2025 sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG).

This annual award, which carries a $10,000 prize, honors exceptional critical writing that deepens our understanding of Nigerian and African literature. Dr. Anasiudu’s victory is both inspiring and well-deserved — the result of years of scholarly dedication and an unwavering passion for storytelling through analysis.

His winning entries captivated the judges with their insight and originality. They include:

- 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 these essays, Dr. Anasiudu skillfully explores the themes of identity, allegory, and representation that define modern African writing. His work reminds us that literary criticism is not just about analyzing texts — it’s about connecting stories to the realities, struggles, and triumphs of our collective human experience.

Dr. Anasiudu’s win reaffirms the importance of critical thought in shaping how we understand literature and life itself.  We celebrate this outstanding achievement and applaud him for bringing honor to Uniport and to Nigeria’s literary community at large.

The celebration held yesterday in Lagos State with Prof. Owunari Georgewill, Uniport Vice Chancellor in attendance. 

Congratulations once again, Dr. Okwudiri Anasiudu.