Call For Submissions: Sande Poetry Prize 2025

The Sande Poetry Prize is an annual literary award of ₦800,000, presented to three outstanding poems written by Nigerian poets.

Launched in 2025, the Prize is founded by Osadolor Osayande, Itohan Osayande (co-founder), Eseosa Osayande (co-founder), Ameze Osayande (co-founder), and Eghosa Osayande (co-founder)—siblings from a family deeply rooted in Nigeria’s literary storytelling traditions. The name Sande is a shortened form of their shared surname, Osayande, and symbolises their collective vision for elevating Nigerian poetry.

The Sande Poetry Prize seeks to celebrate excellence in contemporary Nigerian poetry and provide both financial and creative support to poets working within and beyond the country’s borders. It recognizes Nigeria as home to some of the most gifted literary voices in Africa—voices that often lack platforms for exposure and meaningful funding opportunities.

Osadolor Osayande, the founder, is a Nigerian poet and storyteller and the author of two poetry collections. He has been longlisted for the Babishai Niwe Poetry Prize, awarded the Brigitte Poirson Poetry Prize, and shortlisted for the Albert Jungers Poetry Prize. His work explores themes of faith, family, intimacy, and cultural identity.

Submission Window & Eligibility

Submission Window: 1 October 2025 – 31 October 2025

Important Dates

• Submission Window Opens: October 1, 2025
  The submission portal opens for all eligible Nigerian poets.

• Submission Window Closes: October 31, 2025
  Final day for all submissions. No entries will be accepted after this date.

• Shortlist Announcement: November 2025
  The judging panel will announce the shortlist for the 2025 prize.

• Winners Declared: December 2025
  The winners of the 2025 Sande Poetry Prize will be declared.

Eligibility

The Prize is open to Nigerian writers, defined as someone who:

• Was born in Nigeria
• Is a national or legal resident of Nigeria, or
• Has at least one Nigerian parent

Additional criteria:

• Must be aged 18 years or over on October 1, 2025
• Only poems written in English are eligible. Translated poems are welcome; in such cases, the prize money may be shared with the translator at the discretion of the judging panel

Submission Guidelines

• Submit exactly two poems, no more, no less

• Each poem must be no longer than 40 lines

• Poems must be original and unpublished

• Poems can be written on any theme of the poet’s choice

• Submissions must be in a single Word or PDF document with:

  • A cover page including:
    • Author’s full name and biography
    • Date of birth
    • Contact email and phone number
    • Brief publication history

• Formatting:

  • Times New Roman or Arial, 12-point font
  • Single-spaced
  • One poem per page
  • Black text only

• Email all submissions to: sandepoetryprize@osadolor.com

Worldwide copyright of each poem remains with the writer. The Sande Poetry Prize reserves the unrestricted right to publish the winning poems (winners and runners-up) online, in an anthology, or for promotional purposes.

Judging and Awards

Each year, the Sande Poetry Prize appoints a distinguished panel of judges. The 2025 panel includes:

• Osadolor Osayande — Judge
• Zarinna Eliza Ribeiro — Judge
• Ngozi Idoniboye — Judge

The panel reserves the right not to award the Prize or to split the award between more than two recipients if deemed necessary.

A shortlist will be announced in November 2025, and winners will be declared in December 2025.

All shortlisted and winning poets agree to allow the Sande Poetry Prize to publish their submitted poems on the official website and social media.

For inquiries: inquiries@osadolor.com