Uzoigwe Miracle and Aremu Goodness Adejare have emerged winners of the maiden edition of the 2026 Pius Oleghe Poetry Prize, following what the Organising Committee of the Pius Oleghe Poetry and Literary Awards (POPALS) described as “a àrigorous adjudication process conducted by an independent panel of distinguished judges.”
The inaugural competition attracted outstanding entries from across Nigeria under the theme “Nigeria of Our Dreams.” The quality of submissions demonstrated the depth of literary talent among emerging and young Nigerian poets and reaffirmed the enduring power of poetry as a vehicle for imagination, hope, and national reflection.
In a joint press statement signed by Prof. Remi Raji, and Nnamdi Okose, the organising committee’s Literary Directors, after careful deliberation, the judges selected Uzoigwe Miracle, as winner ofCategory A – Young Voices (12–17 years) who impressed the judges with exceptional creativity, originality, and poetic craftsmanship, followed by Aremu Goodness Adejare, as winner of Category B – Emerging Poets (18–35 years) in recognition of an outstanding poem distinguished by artistic excellence and thoughtful engagement with the competition theme.The Organising Committee warmly congratulates both winners on this remarkable achievement.
