SEVHAGE launches Eugenia Abu international prize for creative non-fiction

SEVHAGE Literary and Development Initiative has partnered ALINEA to launch the Eugenia Abu/SEVHAGE international prize for creative non-fiction.

In a statement, Sueddie Agema, SEVHAGE’s executive director, said the prize in honour of Abu — a writer, broadcaster, and media consultant — aims to celebrate outstanding creative non-fiction from writers across the world.

He said the prize is supported by an endowment from Victor Oladokun, senior advisor to the president on communication and stakeholder engagement; African Development Bank Group; and “some anonymous patrons”.

He added that the prize is a key component of the SEVHAGE Literary Prizes 2024, which also includes categories for fiction and critical essays.

Hyginus Ekwuazi, multiple award-winning writer and former vice chancellor of the Dominican University Ibadan, will serve as the chief judge for the prizes.

The director added that submissions are currently open and will close on August 29.

“We are honoured to dedicate this year’s Creative Nonfiction Prize to Eugenia Abu, better known as one of Nigeria’s cherished broadcasters, an award-winning author and an outstanding mentor,” he said.

“The winner will receive ₦750,000 and have their work published, with additional opportunities for other shortlisted entries.

“Portions of the winning work will be featured in an exhibition in Nottingham, England, as part of the SEVHAGE Festival.

“Detailed submission guidelines are available on the SEVHAGE website at www.sevhage.com/prizes.

“Winners will be announced in the final quarter of 2024.”

Eugenia Abu is a renowned broadcast journalist who anchored the Network News on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) for 17 years.

She has won several awards, including the NMMA best newscaster of the year in 1995.

Abu retired from active public service as executive director of programmes, after serving for 34 years.

She currently serves as a visiting consultant at Bingham University and is a council member of Veritas University.

Abu is a judge on the National Maltina Teachers Award and the OFAB Media Award.

She is also a member of the National Media Complaints Commission and a board member of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, and Trust TV.

She has worked with national and international organisations including UN Women, ILO, ECOWAS, and NEDC as a multimedia strategist and media consultant.

Abu has compered numerous high-profile events, including the inaugurations of Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari.

She is the author of ‘In the Blink of an Eye’, which won the ANA/NDDC Flora Nwapa Prize for Best Women’s Writing, and ‘Don’t Look at Me Like That’.

The SEVHAGE Literary Prizes are annual awards organised by the SEVHAGE Literary and Development Initiative and SEVHAGE Publishers.