The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has announced Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor as the winner of the 2025 Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature for her novel See Morocco, See Spain.
The announcement was made during the grand dinner and award ceremony marking the conclusion of the 44th ANA International Convention, held at the Chinua Achebe International Conference Centre, Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village, Abuja.
Enenmor’s novel triumphed over a field of fifteen submissions to claim this prestigious literary honour.
Instituted by the Anambra State Government and administered by the Association of Nigerian Authors, the Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature has, over the past five years, become one of the most coveted awards in Nigerian letters. It celebrates excellence in prose fiction and honours the enduring legacy of Nigeria’s most celebrated novelist, Professor Chinua Achebe. The 2025 edition was distinctive in that submissions were restricted to members of ANA branches within Nigeria, thereby strengthening the association’s literary community.
According to the 2025 Judges’ Report, fifteen novels were assessed on the basis of well-defined literary and physical criteria. These included thematic significance, plot structure, setting, dialogue, characterisation, language use, spontaneity, tension and conflict resolution, and overall presentation. The panel noted that the entries reflected a rich diversity of themes -- from politics, migration and violence to love, identity and cultural conflict. The judges emphasised that the high quality of submissions demonstrated the growing depth and maturity of Nigerian prose fiction.
In their final deliberations, the panel shortlisted three remarkable works: See Morocco, See Spain by Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor, Years of Shame by Obinna Udenwe, and Insignia of the Gods by Anthony Oha. Each of these novels, the judges observed, displayed outstanding craftsmanship and narrative depth, making the task of selecting a winner particularly challenging. However, See Morocco, See Spain ultimately stood out for its powerful exploration of migration, resilience, and the human spirit.
See Morocco, See Spain tells the story of desperate young Africans who embark on perilous journeys across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea in search of a better life. Through her gripping narrative, Enenmor captures the despair, courage, and moral struggles of those fleeing failed governance and socio-economic hardship. The judges praised the novel for its evocative storytelling, compelling characterisation, and its capacity to mirror one of Africa’s most urgent contemporary realities — irregular migration.
Second place went to Years of Shame by Obinna Udenwe, which the judges described as a deeply reflective novel exploring the tensions between tradition and modernity. The work delves into the consequences of human choices, innocence lost, and the enduring scars of societal taboos, particularly incest. The third shortlisted work, Insignia of the Gods by Anthony Oha, was commended for its allegorical critique of political corruption and the perilous allure of power in postcolonial African societies.
The panel of judges commended the organisers for the rigour of the selection process and thanked the ANA leadership for the opportunity to serve. They noted that, in just five years, the Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature has grown in prestige, becoming a genuine symbol of literary excellence and a vital platform for nurturing the next generation of Nigerian novelists.
In their concluding remarks, the judges expressed satisfaction with the final outcome and optimism that the prize would continue to inspire writers to produce works that challenge, educate, and transform society. They further lauded the Anambra State Government for its sustained sponsorship and commitment to promoting Nigeria’s literary culture.
Reacting to her win, Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor expressed deep gratitude to ANA, the judges, and the Anambra State Government for recognising her work. She dedicated the award to “the countless Africans who dream of a better life beyond borders”, reiterating her belief in the power of literature to expose social injustice and inspire empathy.
With Enenmor’s victory, the 2025 Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature once again reaffirms its mission of upholding the creative spirit of Chinua Achebe — a legacy rooted in truth, justice, and the power of storytelling to heal and reform the human condition. The Association of Nigerian Authors congratulated all the shortlisted writers for their outstanding contributions to Nigerian literature.
Meet Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor, Winner of the 2025 Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature
Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor is an award-winning author and master storyteller whose writing captivates readers with its emotional depth and narrative finesse. She has written acclaimed novels, short stories, plays, and books for young adults and children.
Her novel A Father’s Pride was a finalist for the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2024, while her earlier work A Hero’s Welcome made the longlist for the same prize in 2019.
She won the ANA Prose Prize in 2022 for If They Tell the Story, and her children’s book One Little Mosquito earned the ANA Prize for Children’s Literature in 2009.
Her latest novel, See Morocco, See Spain, has been widely praised by critics as a significant literary achievement. Her stage play, A Harvest of Maggots, is set to tour university campuses across Nigeria.
Beyond writing, Chiazor-Enenmor is an environmental activist, children’s rights advocate, and education consultant. She is also the founder of the Walnut Book Club, through which she promotes literary engagement and reading culture across the country.
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