The Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has selected Nigerian poet and creative writer, James Eze, for a special honour in recognition of his contributions to literature, creative writing and the development of the arts.
Eze will receive the recognition at the Faculty’s two-day Arts Festival, scheduled to run from Monday, November 2, to Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
In a letter dated October 27, 2026, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Chuu Krydz Ikwuemesi, informed Eze of his selection, citing his literary achievements and work as Chief Executive Officer of Udala Tree Consults Nigeria, Enugu.
The letter stated: “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.”
It described the recognition as one 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.”
According to the letter, the Awards and Recognition Ceremony will hold on Tuesday, November 3, during which Eze “will be celebrated alongside other distinguished individuals for your contributions to literature and the creative arts.”
Reacting to the recognition, Eze described it as a pleasant surprise, saying it had come 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 shining glow of this award, I will find the spark to create more art.”
He expressed gratitude to the university and the Faculty of Arts, under the leadership of Prof. Ikwuemesi, for considering him worthy of the honour.
The recognition comes weeks after Eze’s poetry collection, Unbind Me Now, made the shortlist of three books for the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), but did not emerge as the winner. The prize was eventually awarded to Ogaga Ifowodo.
Eze had earlier won the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prize for Poetry with his debut collection, Dispossessed. The same collection earned him a place on the longlist of the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2022, before Unbind Me Now advanced to the final shortlist in the 2026 edition.
The UNN Faculty of Arts Festival is designed to celebrate creativity, scholarship, culture and the humanities. It will bring together writers, artists, scholars, performers, students, alumni, cultural practitioners and friends of the Faculty.
Activities lined up for the two-day festival include literary events, exhibitions, performances, lectures, film screenings and cultural presentations aimed at showcasing the Faculty’s intellectual and creative contributions.
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