The ZODML Poetry Prize/ How to Apply (N500,000 + Award)
ZODML Poetry Prize 2025: “Seeds of Tomorrow”
The Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries (ZODML) is now accepting entries for the ZODML Poetry Prize 2025—a celebration of youthful imagination and creative promise. This year’s theme, “Seeds of Tomorrow,” invites students in Nigerian public universities and polytechnics to plant their words firmly in the soil of hope, vision, and renewal.
Eligibility for the ZODML Poetry Prize
The prize is open exclusively to undergraduate and postgraduate students currently enrolled in Nigerian public tertiary institutions. This includes public universities and polytechnics across the country.
Submission Guidelines for the ZODML Poetry Prize
- Submit one original, unpublished poem in either English or an indigenous Nigerian language (with an accompanying English translation).
- Maximum length: 50 lines
- Format: Typed in Times New Roman, 12-point font
- Upload your poem through the official ZODML Poetry Prize portal
- Submission Deadline: August 31, 2025, at midnight GMT
Winners will be announced in November 2025.
Prizes
- First Prize: ₦500,000, a winner’s medal, and a trophy for your university
- Second Prize: ₦300,000 and a medal
- Third Prize: ₦200,000 and a medal
- Top 10 finalists will receive certificates and publication in the ZODML Poetry Anthology
All entries will be judged blindly by a panel of distinguished poets, led by the award-winning Nigerian poet Tade Ipadeola.
Tips for Strong Submissions
Whether you’re writing in English or a Nigerian language, these practices can strengthen your entry:
- Begin with a compelling image or line
- Stay close to the theme, but don’t be afraid to interpret it creatively
- Use fresh language and original metaphors
- Read your poem aloud to fine-tune rhythm and clarity
- Edit ruthlessly—tighten your line breaks, eliminate clutter
Need help polishing your poem? Here are two helpful reads:
- 5 Tips for Becoming a More Eloquent Writer
- Ten Brilliant Poets Discuss Their Writing Philosophies, Recommend Poems, and Part the Green River of Rejections
Why This Matters
The ZODML Poetry Prize is a platform that amplifies the voices of young Nigerian creatives. At its heart is a belief that poetry can inspire, challenge, and reimagine futures.
So if you’re a student with something to say about tomorrow, this is your chance to say it—powerfully, poetically, and publicly.
