The Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation, Abuja, is delighted to announce the winners and finalists of the inaugural BCD–Utulu Prize for Literature, an award established to celebrate literary excellence and honour works that reflect depth, originality, and the courage of imagination.
This prize, which recognises compelling expressions in poetry and fiction, is named in honour of Barr. Christopher Diba-Utulu, a distinguished art and school administrator as well as a writer.
Entries for this maiden edition came from brilliant minds across the country, each work resonating with truth, emotion, and the pulse of contemporary African experience. After a rigorous judging process, we are pleased to present this year’s outstanding winners:

SCHOOL CATEGORY

Winner:
At the Eagle Square, Swearing-In by Ogún — Rachael Madakan Dandi
First Runner-up:
Pretty Hallucinations — Fortune Eleojo Simeon
Second Runner-up:
Quest and Nothing — Raheema Panti

Finalists:
Alternative Scenarios in Eden — Miracle Chierigo
Newness — Sa’ada Isa Yahaya

ADULT CATEGORY

Winners:
To Lose What We Never Gained — Muheez Olawale
Origin Story as Told by the Serpent — Chiwenite Onyekwelu
What Adults Don’t Know About Babies — Abdulrahaman Abu-Yaman

Finalists:
Tulip Fever — Pacella Chukwuma-Eke
The Bearer of Limp Hands — Pamela Erhiakeme
Obituary — Daniel Echezonachi Maxwell
I Would Have Tried Again — Glory Okiche

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winners and our deep appreciation to every writer who submitted their work and patiently awaited the results.