Barrier to Brilliance: Rethinking ANA’s Young Adult Literature Prize Fees

I respond to the Association of Nigerian Authors’ announcement of the maiden HRM Eze M.O. Kanu Prize for Young Adult Literature. I question the ₦10,000 entry fee alongside a ₦300,000 reward. Literary awards should celebrate talent, not filter out emerging writers who cannot afford participation. Requiring six physical copies adds another layer of exclusion for self-published and low-income authors. Publishers may cover such costs, but independent voices risk being shut out. Finally, the lack of clear accounting for these fees raises transparency concerns. If ANA aims to foster inclusivity, it must justify costs, ensure fairness, and make processes open.

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