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SFN Opens 2026 Annual Writing Competition for Young Nigerians

SFN  Opens 2026 Annual Writing Competition for Young Nigerians
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Stories From Nigeria(SFN) is inviting young Nigerians to document real-life experiences and social issues through its 2026 Annual Writing Competition, providing a platform for emerging writers to share stories about the country's justice system, healthcare, education, entrepreneurship and social reform.

Quick Overview

  • Top prize: ₦200,000
  • Total prize pool: ₦450,000
  • Eligibility: Nigerian citizens aged between 16 to 35
  • Application deadline: November 12, 2026

Apply Now For The SFN Competiton 3rd Annual Edition · 2026

SFN Competition Benefits

The competition will reward the top three entries with cash prizes and an interview feature on the Stories From Nigeria platform and the prizes are distributed as follows:

  • First place: ₦200,000
  • Second place: ₦150,000
  • Third place: ₦100,000

Essay and Writing Competition Themes

Participants are required to select one of five themes and develop an original entry based on their chosen subject. The organisers encourage submissions that reflect real experiences, people and situations within Nigerian communities.

The available themes are:

1. Justice

Applicants can write about personal or community experiences with Nigeria's justice system, explaining how such encounters have influenced their understanding of access to justice, particularly for ordinary citizens.

2. Healthcare

This theme focuses on experiences involving Nigeria's healthcare system. Participants can describe a situation in which they or someone close to them needed medical attention and encountered the realities or limitations of healthcare delivery in the country.

3. Social Reform

Writers are invited to document individuals, communities or movements that have contributed to positive change. Entries may also explore a personal experience that inspired someone to take action within their environment.

4. Education

This category explores access to education in Nigeria. Participants can share experiences involving educational opportunities, challenges and barriers affecting individuals or communities.

5. Entrepreneurship

Applicants can write about the realities of starting or managing a business in Nigeria, including the challenges entrepreneurs encounter and the experiences involved in building something of their own.

Eligibility Requirements and Submission Guidelines

The competition is open to Nigerian citizens between the ages of 16 and 35 whether they reside in Nigeria or elsewhere in the diaspora so far they are NIGERIANS.

Secondary school students, tertiary institution students, early-career professionals and emerging writers are eligible to participate.

Applicants must also meet the following requirements:

  • Entries must be original and previously unpublished.
  • Submissions may take the form of short stories, poetry or essays.
  • Each entry must not exceed 750 words.
  • Entries may be written in English. Indigenous Nigerian languages are also encouraged provided an English translation is included.
  • Documents must use Arial font, size 11, with 1.5 line spacing.

The organisers said they will assess entries based on authenticity, literary quality, storytelling and originality, which account for 70% of the judging score while cultural relevance, social impact and technical execution will make up the remaining 30%.

How to Apply for Stories From Nigeria Writing Competition 2026

Interested applicants should follow these steps to submit their entries:

  1. Visit the official competition website at storiesfromnigeria.org/competition and review the five available themes.
  2. Choose one theme and prepare an original short story, poem or essay based on it.
  3. Ensure the entry does not exceed 750 words.
  4. Visit the official submission portal.
  5. enter your basic contact information and upload your essay in word document (.docx file)

Official Competition Page: https://storiesfromnigeria.org/competition/

Learn More From The Offocial Website

Application Deadline and Winners Announcement

The submission period opened on October 21, 2026 and will close on November 12, 2026. Applicants are expected to submit their entries before the deadline.

According to the organisers' published schedule, judging will end on November 30, 2026 and the winners will be announced on December 7, 2026, during the maiden Stories From Nigeria Virtual Conference.

KeyNote and Date For Interested SFN Applicants

  • competition submission opens = October 21, 2026
  • Application ends = November 12, 2026
  • Judging ends = November 30, 2026
  • Winners announced = December 7, 2026

visit https://storiesfromnigeria.org/competition/#key-dates for accuracy

Source: Stories From Nigeria official website

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