2017 Nigeria Prize for Literature
The 2017 Nigeria Prize for Literature is a literary award worth given for the best English-language novel published by a Nigerian author. The winner, Ikeogu Oke for his poetry book The Heresiad, was announced on 10 October 2017 in Lagos.
Focused on poetry, the jury consisted of Ernest Emenyonu, the chairman, Tade Ipadeola, the 2013 recipient, and Razinat Mohammed. On 22 July 2017, 11 books were longlisted out of 184 entries.
On 30 August 2017, the shortlist was released and it contained only three books; Songs of Myself by Tanure Ojaide, A Good Mourning by Ogaga Ifowodo and The Heresiad by Ikeogu Oke. On 10 October 2017, chairman of the advisory board of the prize, Ayo Banjo, during the World Press Conference in Lagos announced Ikeogu Oke as the winner.
Nominees
Source:| Author | Title | Publisher |
| Tanure Ojaide | Songs of Myself | |
| Peter Akinlabi | Iconography | |
| Hyginus Ekwuazi | One Day I’ll Dare to Raise My Middle Finger at the Stork and the Reaper | |
| Obari Gomba | For Every Homeland | |
| Seun Lari-Williams | Garri for Breakfast | |
| Humphrey Ogu | Echoes of Neglect | |
| Abubakar Othman | Blood Streams in the Desert | |
| Ikeogu Oke | The Heresiad | Kraft Books |
| Jumoke Verissimo | The Birth of Illusion | |
| Ebi Yeibo | Of Waters and the Wild | |
| Ogaga Ifowodo | A Good Mourning |