Actor and director Sam Dede has been announced as the head of the judging panel for the newly introduced Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts by the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG).
The announcement was made on Friday at a press conference in Lagos by Joel Benson, technical adviser to the advisory board of the prize.
Benson described Dede as “a veteran actor, director, and senior lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, and one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s creative industry, with a distinguished career spanning over three decades.”
He added that the actor would be joined by Adeola Aderonke, an award-winning film director and art historian and George Ugwuja, a renowned film producer whose works have been commissioned by international organisations such as the United Nations and Plan International.
According to Benson, “During the judging period, there will also be opportunities for the public to engage with the longlisted and shortlisted works, encouraging wider appreciation of documentary storytelling in Nigeria.”
The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts was unveiled on October 10 by NLNG’s Managing Director, Dr Philip Mshelbila, as a new addition to the company’s long-running suite of prizes. The creative arts prize replaces the Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism, which had previously complemented the Nigeria Prize for Literature and Nigeria Prize for Science.
The new category focuses on documentary filmmaking and is open to Nigerians aged 18 to 35. It aims to celebrate and promote excellence in storytelling through short non-fiction films of 20 minutes or less.
Speaking on behalf of NLNG, General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said storytelling lies at the heart of Nigeria’s identity and development.
“At the heart of every great civilisation lies a story that defines who they are, what they value, and how they see the world,” she said. “For us at NLNG, storytelling sits at the centre of everything we do. Every time we deliver energy to light homes, power industries, or enable education and healthcare, we are not just exporting LNG; we are telling a Nigerian story.”
Benson further described the new prize as “a response to a generational call” that will empower young Nigerians to tell authentic stories about the country through documentary film.
“This prize will inspire a new generation of filmmakers who will inform, challenge, and connect us more deeply to who we are as a people,” he said.
He added that it was a privilege to be part of the prize from its inception, describing it as “one of the most significant developments in Nigerian and African documentary filmmaking.”
“Through this Prize, we hope to build a vibrant ecosystem of talented storytellers whose works will not only move Nigerians but also resonate across borders,” Benson said.
The inaugural edition, themed “Identity,” invites filmmakers to explore issues of belonging, transformation, heritage and self-definition in Nigerian society.
Entries will be accepted between February and April 2026, with the winner to be announced during NLNG’s grand award night in October 2026.
The prize carries a monetary value of $20,000 and, according to Benson, is designed to “meet the highest international standards” while reflecting “the aspirations of Nigeria’s youth.”
