The Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation is proud to announce the winners of its 2025 Annual Award for Excellence in Creative Writing and Valued Addition to the Foundation. This year’s winners are Pacella Chukwuma-Eke, AbdulRazaq Salihu, Sa’ada Isa Yahaya, and Ibraheem Uthman. These individuals have shown remarkable commitment to the literary arts and have greatly contributed to Nigerian and African literature through their writing, performances, and community engagement.
Pacella Chukwuma-Eke
Pacella Chukwuma-Eke is a celebrated poet and spoken word artist, known for her dominance in poetry slams across Lagos and Abuja in 2024. Her literary achievements include being the 1st runner-up for the Nigerian Prize for Teen Authors in the Poetry category and winning the Utopia Award for Poetry. Her works have appeared in several respected literary magazines, and she is a Sundress Best of the Net and a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Editor at Arts Lounge Magazine.
AbdulRazaq Salihu
At only 20 years old, AbdulRazaq Salihu has established himself as one of Nigeria’s most versatile voices in poetry and speculative fiction. His published chapbooks of poetry and story earned him the Nigeria Prize for Teen Authors. His works have been featured in national and international journals, earning him recognition as a rising star in Nigeria’s spoken word scene. Beginning 2025, he will participate in an International Residency Programme in Ghana organised by the Library of Africa and The African Diaspora, LOATAD.
Sa’ada Isa Yahaya
Sa’ada Isa Yahaya is a Nigerian teen writer and author of Strong Bond, published by HCAF, who regards herself as God’s own piece of art. She is a student of Jewel Model School, Kubwa-Abuja and a member of the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation, Abuja branch. Sa’ada is a double winner of the on-the-spot poetry prize at HIASFEST and the first runner up in the AIPFEST SLAM 2024. She is the 2nd Runner up at the 2024 ALITFEST Slam. Her works have recei ved nominations for the Creators of Justice Literary Award (Youth Category), AS ABUGI National Short Story Prize. Her works have appeared in Blue Marble Review, Libretto Magazine, Con-Sciò, Under the Madness Magazine, Spillwords and elsewhere.
Ibraheem Uthman
Ibraheem Uthman is a Nigerian poet, essayist, and literary mentor whose works delve into themes of identity, spirituality, and human connection. He is the author of Mind of a Bard and has contributed extensively to literary magazines and journals. Uthman serves as the Managing Editor of The Nigeria Review, Secretary of the Northern Writers Forum, and curator of the HIASFEST Monthly Literary Panel. He is a two-time winner of the National Library Prize and was a runner-up for the BillWard Prize for Emerging Writers in the Essay category. He is a senior mentor at the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation, teaches poetry at the Minna Creative Writing School, and manages the Foundation’s digital presence, running its five official websites.
Each winner will receive a cash prize of N50,000 at the finals of the 2025 HIASFEST, scheduled to take place from January 15 to 18, 2025, at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria.
The Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation congratulates and recognises the awardees for their contributions to the literary arts. Their achievements serve as a source of inspiration for young writers and artists throughout Nigeria and beyond.
Congratulations to them.