NWF Journal, the literary magazine of the Northern Writers Forum (NWF), has been selected as one of five international literary magazines to join the inaugural Chill Subs Lit Mag Incubator Project 2025. Out of 128 applicants worldwide, NWF Journal was awarded a $1,000 grant, alongside a yearlong mentorship and access to CLMP’s international network of magazines.
The Chill Subs Incubator Project supports magazines in building financial sustainability and creating long-term opportunities for writers and editors. For NWF Journal, this marks a significant milestone in its mission to amplify voices from Northern Nigeria, Africa, and beyond.
“This grant is not just about funding,” said Ibraheem Uthman, Managing Editor of NWF Journal. “It’s about validation, that a magazine run by young editors from Northern Nigeria has a place in the global literary space. We are building something sustainable, and we are building it our way.”
Since its founding, Northern Writers Forum has faced skepticism from parts of the old guard, who were unconvinced that young editors could chart their own path. Yet, in only a few years, NWF has built platforms and initiatives whose reach and impact are difficult to ignore. Where others have leaned on tradition, NWF Journal has chosen to innovate — and this recognition proves that literature thrives when new energy and bold visions are given space to grow.
In just two issues, NWF Journal has published a diverse range of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, reviews, interviews, and visual art, while also launching landmark projects such as the Ladi Kwali Poetry Prize. With this grant, the journal will focus on building diversified revenue streams to ensure its writers and editors are consistently compensated, securing its place as a sustainable platform for African literature.
The second issue of NWF Journal was released earlier this month and can be read at: Issue 2.
For more information, please visit: www.nwfjournal.com.ng
Press Contact:
Ibraheem Uthman
Managing Editor, NWF Journal
Email: ibraheem@northernwritersforum.ng
