After releasing its longlist of twenty-one Nigerian poets on August 15th, 2022, the shortlist of seven poets was released on August 31st, 2022. The fellowship is the first to recognise emerging nigerian poets living in Nigeria with a total cash prize of N200,000.
The Unserious Collective Fellowship aims to award four Nigerian poets as its fellows, annually, for poems that are commendable, experimental, brilliant, and daring.

The shortlisted poets are:

Njoku Nonso

Haneefah Bello

Chiwenite Onyekwelu

Emmanuel Akin-Ademola

Olúwatamílòre Osho

Femi Lewis

Nwuguru Chidiebere Sullivan

Created by a group of people—Nome Patrick, Wale Ayinla, Michael Akuchie, Adedayo Agarau, Pamilerin Jacob, O-Jeremiah Agbaakin, and Kolawole Samuel Adebayo—who were bounded by passion and talent with hopes “to recognize talents and celebrate hard work in the bustling Nigerian Poetry community”, the Unserious Collective Scholars will receive N50,000 each and publication of their portfolios on the website. So, emerging poets with no published full-length collections are eligible regardless of “age, geographic location, and educational status” and are deeply encouraged to submit.