Nigerian Author, Foluke Falayi Wins 2026 ANA/Ngozi Chuma-Udeh Literary Prize

Summary: Nigerian children’s author, Foluke Sijuwola Falayi, has emerged winner of the 2026 ANA/Ngozi Chuma-Udeh Prize for Children’s Fiction with her book, Beans for Supper.

Nigerian children’s author, Foluke Sijuwola Falayi, has emerged winner of the 2026 ANA/Ngozi Chuma-Udeh Prize for Children’s Fiction with her book, Beans for Supper. The award was presented to her in Abuja during the 45th National Convention and Literary Awards of the Association. 

The ANA/Ngozi Chuma-Udeh Prize is an annual literary award that recognizes outstanding Nigerian published prose books written specifically for young readers, targeting children aged 7 to 13. The prize is endowed by Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, a Nigerian academic, author, and Fellow of ANA who has also served as the Anambra State Commissioner for Education. She instituted the award in 2015 to encourage quality storytelling for children. The winning author receives a cash prize of ₦100,000 alongside a plaque or certificate. 

With over 20 published titles across drama, poetry, and prose, Ms Foluke is a prolific Nigerian children’s author, publisher, and literacy advocate. She is the founder and CEO of Jedidiah Sweetha Books, and her stories are widely adopted as recommended literature texts in schools across Nigeria.

Expressing her joy over the achievement, the author shared that her writing is driven by the desire to connect children with knowledge, everyday experiences and the wider world through storytelling. She added that children’s literature played an important role in developing reading habits, stimulating imagination and encouraging young people to engage meaningfully with books.

 “The recognition will further motivate me to remain committed to storytelling and promote reading among children,” she stated.