Entry Submission for Etisalat Prize for Literature Closes 30th August

Enitan Denloye

Etisalat Nigeria, has announced the 30th of this August as its closing date for the submission of entries into the Debut Fiction category of the Etisalat Prize for Literature. The DF category, which opened on 5^th June will officially close this August to kick off the judging process by the panel of judges chaired by Pumla Gqola.

According to the Director, Brands and Communications Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye,  in a press release issued by its Public Relations Officer, Mabel Aladenusi, the entries received spanned across the continent, a testament to the abundance of literary talent out of Africa. 'We have received some exciting and quality entries since the call for entries of the Etisalat Prize and what we are doing with this Prize is to focus attention on first time published writers.  We are delighted to have provided a platform that showcases and celebrates the uniqueness and creativity in the literary arts as it relates to fiction in Africa.'

He explained that the EPL is the first ever pan-African prize to applaud first time writers of published fiction books. It boasts of a seasoned panel of Judges from across the continent; each with the aim of identifying new writers of African descent. 'Submitted works must be the writer’s first fiction book of over 30,000 words, which has been published in the last 24 months.'

Enitan explained, 'Entries for the Fiction Novel category will be assessed by four preselected judges chaired by the Associate Professor in the Department of African Literature at the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), Pumla Gqola; Professor of Creative writing at the University of Ohio Zakes Mda; writer and academic Sarah Ladipo Manyika and the Managing Editor of Kwani Trust, of the literary Journal Kwani, Billy Kahora.

With a prize money of £15,000, alongside a Samsung Note, the winner of the Fiction Novel category will also go on an Etisalat-sponsored book tour in three major cities and be awarded a fellowship at the prestigious University of East Anglia, the pre-eminent school for creative writing and mentored by Professor Giles Foden, author of the Last King of Scotland. The second place will receive a cash prize of £1,000 and also go on an Etisalat-sponsored book tour with a Samsung Note. Etisalat will also purchase 1,000 copies of the three shortlisted books, which will be distributed across libraries and schools in the continent as a way of celebrating the publishing industry.

Etisalat disclosed that in just four years of operations, Etisalat Nigeria has become a major industry player with a growing subscriber base of 15 million in a competitive market. Its portfolio of voice and data-centric products include easy starter: easycliq, easybusiness, easyblaze and easyflex; all tailor-made to meet the needs of its customers.

'For its outstanding performance since the launch of commercial operations, Etisalat has won the Nigerian telecoms industry’s first ever Excellent Service and effective Collaboration with the Consumer Affairs Bureau to ensure access to Customer Care Help line.'

The company has also won several other awards, which include Brand of the Year, Best Telecom Customer Service, Telecom Innovations Company of the Year and Most Innovative Corporate Social Responsibility Company.

Etisalat Nigeria is one of the 15 operations of the Etisalat Group that spans across Africa, Middle East and Asia serving over 140 million subscribers and it is committed to delivering innovative and quality services to its growing subscribers.