Obari Gomba wins $100k Nigerian Prize for Literature 2023 at fifth attempt

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Try, try, and try five times, and you could win resounded on Friday, 13 October 2023, as playwright, poet, and teacher Dr Obari Gomba finally won the Nigerian Prize for Literature.

?His winning work, Grit, epitomised his journey to the title. Gomba has pursued the NLNG Nigerian Prize for Literature with several entries since 2013. He was on either the longlist or shortlist five times before GRIT clinched the prize.

?Gomba was longlisted in 2013 for his work Length of Eyes; in 2017, For Every Homeland made the list. The judges listed Guerrilla Post in 2018 and The Lilt of The Rebel in 2022.

?Gomba said of his winning work. “Grit can be defined in two ways. In one way, you look at grit as courage. In another way, you look at grit as bits of a thing after a thing has been broken into bits. That is what happens in the play. There is the courage to speak truth to power, and there is also the exercises of power in a manner that breaks people.”

?The Alesa-Eleme-born scholar studied English at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and obtained master’s and PhD degrees in the discipline at the University of Port Harcourt. He teaches Literature and Creative Writing at the Department of English Studies, University of Port Harcourt. He is 46 years old.

?He said of the Nigerian Prize for Literature: “The significance of the prize is bigger than the statement of a jury. It is the biggest reward in literature in our country and on our continent and is something to be proud of. We should all be proud that we have the biggest literary prize on the continent.”

Speaking to NLNG The Magazine ahead of winning, Gomba canvassed rewards for the two runners-up of the Nigerian Prize.

His runners-up were Henry Akubuiro’s Yamtarawala and The Ojuelegba Crossroads by Abideen Abolaji Ojomu.

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GRIT, according to an AI tool?

Grit is a personality trait characterised by perseverance and passion for long-term goals. It is often defined as the combination of hard work and dedication that people use to achieve their goals, even in the face of challenges and setbacks.

People with grit are willing to put in the extra effort and work hard, even when difficult. They can stay focused on their goals and not give up, even when they experience setbacks.

Grit is a crucial trait for success in many areas of life, including academics, sports, and business. It is also an essential trait for overcoming challenges and adversity.

Here are some examples of grit:

• A student who studies for hours every night, even though they are struggling in a class.
• An athlete who trains every day, even when they are injured.
• Entrepreneur works long hours to build their business, even when they are facing financial difficulties.
• A person who overcomes a personal challenge, such as a drug addiction or a serious illness.

Grit is not something that people are born with. It is a trait that can be developed and strengthened through practice. Here are some tips for developing grit:

• Set clear and challenging goals for yourself.
• Develop a plan for achieving your goals and stick to it.
• Be persistent, and don't give up easily.
• Learn from your mistakes and failures.
• Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.

Grit is an essential trait for success in many areas of life. You can overcome challenges and achieve your goals by developing and strengthening your grit.

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