ACETNEWS
Barely few weeks after James Eze’s poetry collection, Unbind Me Now, missed the prestigious Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas, he is back on the honours list.
This time it is courtesy of Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) that has adjuged Eze, Nigerian poet, worthy of an honour for his outstanding contributions to creative writing, literary development and the promotion of the arts.
The author will on Tuesday, November 3, be conferred the honour at a two-day Faculty of Arts Festival, which begins Monday, November 2 and ends on Tuesday, 2026.
According to a statement dated October 27, 2026, signed by the Dean, Faculty of Arts of the university, Prof. Chuu Krydz Ikwuemesi informed Eze of the honour: “As a poet and creative writer, and through your work as the Chief Executive Officer of Udala Tree Consults Nigeria, Enugu, you have contributed meaningfully to the growth of literary and creative culture and to the spaces through which writers, artists and ideas find expression. In recognition of these contributions, we are delighted to inform you that you have been selected for a Faculty of Arts Honour/Award”.
The letter disclosed that the honour was reserved “for individuals whose work, creativity and commitment have enriched the literary and cultural landscape and continue to inspire others within and beyond the university community”.
It further stated that an Awards and Recognition Ceremony will hold on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 where Eze would “be celebrated alongside other distinguished individuals for your contributions to literature and the creative arts”.
Eze, a winner of the Association of Nigerian Authors Prize for poetry with his first collection of poetry, “Dispossessed”, had appeared on the long list of the Nigeria Prize in 2022 with the same book before his latest book soared to the shortlist of three in the 2026 edition of the prize which was eventually won by Ogaga Ifowodo.
Speaking on the honour, Eze said it came as a pleasant surprise at a defining moment in his life.
“I am presently in the defining moment of my life. I am humbled by this recognition from one of Nigeria’s most historic institutions. The weight of this honour is beyond imagination. In the shinny glow of this award, I will find the spark to create more art,” he said.
He expressed his gratitude to the entire university for finding him worthy of honour and to the Faculty of Arts, headed by Prof. Chuu Krydz Ikwuemesi for conferring him with such a rare privilege.
The UNN Faculty of Arts Festival is conceived as a celebration of creativity, scholarship, culture and the humanities, bringing together writers, artists, scholars, performers, students, alumni, cultural practitioners and friends of the Faculty. It will feature literary events, exhibitions, performances, lectures, film and cultural presentations designed to showcase and celebrate the intellectual and creative life of the Faculty.
