10 REASONS TO APPLY FOR THE NIGERIAN STUDENTS POETRY PRIZE

NSPP 2020 EDITION 

DEADLINE: March 31st, 2020 

The Nigerian student's poetry prize is an initiative of Poets in Nigeria (PIN) aimed at stimulating literary creativity and encouraging critical thinking among Nigerian undergraduates. Since its inception in 2016 at the University of Ibadan, the prize has received about 2500 entries from students representing over 100 tertiary institutions (including universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, schools of nursing and seminary schools).

Reputed as the foremost poetry prize for Nigerian students, the NSPP has awarded over a million Naira (1,000,000) to winning entrants. 

10 REASONS TO APPLY FOR THE NIGERIAN STUDENTS POETRY PRIZE

1. You will not die
2. Right now you are not doing anything
3. Whether you win or not you would have successfully written a poem (   bragging rights )
4. You don't even have to be perfect. You just need to be articulate about expressing yourself in lines.
5. If they were looking for already made poets. They know where to find them, this wouldn't have been open for you and me. 
6. The poem doesn't have to Rhyme
7. If you win that prize, it is enough to calm your nerves. 
8. Nobody will beat you if you  don't make the cut 
9. All I am saying is just write.  You never know.
10.   Your poem will be published in an anthology selling across Nigeria if you make it to top 100(  I was in this category last year) let me show you

I didn't win but I made it to top hundred. My poem is in an actual book. Orgasmic!

If you win your poem will be used as the title of the Anthology! 

This could be you but are busy making excuses.

Successfully added PIN to my list of bragging and you can too

PRIZES 

Aside rewarding the  prize winners (top three entrants) with a total cash prize of ₦500,000, the top 100 entrants will each receive a certificate of excellence and complimentary a copy of the NSPP anthology which features their works.

• 1st Prize – ₦250,000
• 2nd Prize – ₦150,000
• 3rd Prize – ₦100,000
• Consolation Prize – ₦25,000 each for 4th and 5th best entrants 

ELIGIBILITY

• Open to all Nigerian undergraduates studying in Nigeria and the diaspora
• Entrants must be from a recognized tertiary institution

GUIDELINES

• Submissions are to be made at http://nspp.poetsinnigeria.org.ng, with strict adherence to the instructions thereon.
• Poems must be original intellectual property of the entrants.
• An entrant is entitled to a single entry of 30 lines maximum.
• No fixed themes. Entrants can write on any relevant theme.
• Entries submitted must be previously unpublished. A submission discovered to have defaulted on this rule will be automatically voided.
• All entrants are expected to purchase a minimum of one of the four NSPP anthologies uploaded on the submission portal.
• Under no condition will the judges’ unanimous decisions be challenged.
• Entering for the contest gives PIN automatic right to make use of entries as deemed appropriate.
• Entries must be written in English. Native terminologies must be translated in English as footnotes.
• Entrants should subscribe to for regular updates.

 This is a platform that is doing the Lord's work when it comes to giving young poets a voice. So jump on this. You don't have to be perfect just express yourself,it's poetry. I  happen to be the student Ambassador for Poets in Nigeria Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Let's put unizik on the submission map. 

For more inquiries visit their website at nspp.poetsinnigeria.org.ng