Aremu, Adebola, Obiotika Are Winners of the EOPP 2026

Poets Aremu Goodness Adejare, Obiotika Wilfred Tochukwu, and Adebola Temitayo Ogunyemi have emerged as winners of the 2025 edition of the Eriata Oribhabor Poetry Prize (EOPP).

The poetry prize, named after prominent Nigerian poet and founder of Poets in Nigeria (PIN), as well as former Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Abuja chapter, is aimed at spotlighting Nigerian poetry and promoting poetry as a tool for social commentary among young people.

Adejare’s poem ‘The Country Practices Breathing’ cinched the overall prize. Tochukwu’s ‘Pedagogue on a Harmattan Trek’ placed first place, while Ogunyemi’s ‘Autopsy of a Deceased Country’ came in second place.

As is customary for the prize, an annual publication featuring the top three winners, alongside 17 other entries in the competition, was released. The anthology, which shares the same title as the overall best poem, was edited by poet and author Kukogho Iruesiri Samson.