Yemipoet January Poetry Contest 2026: Win ₦85,000 ( For students)

The January Poetry Contest 2026 is now open for young and emerging poets who want their voices heard at the start of the new year. This month’s contest focuses on hope, renewal, and intentional living, giving writers a meaningful platform to express how words can shape reality.

With cash prizes available and a simple online submission process, this is an excellent creative opportunity for poets across Nigeria and beyond.

Contest Theme: Speak Life Into This Year

The theme invites participants to explore how words, thoughts, and daily choices can influence personal growth, inspire others, and turn dreams into action. Poems should reflect positivity, intention, resilience, and the power of spoken or written words.

To guide submissions, each poem must begin with one of the following opening lines:

• Today I choose to plant words that bloom tomorrow
• Today I let my words carry the light I wish to see

Prize Details

Three winners will be selected for the January 2026 edition.

Total prize pool: ₦85,000
Prizes are shared among the top three poems, with recognition from the Yemipoet community and its partners.

Who Can Apply

The contest is open to poets who meet the following conditions:

• First-time and returning participants are welcome
• Applicants can reside in any region (North, West, East, South, or other)
• Participants must submit an original poem written in English
• Poets must be willing to complete a short creativity and wellbeing questionnaire as part of the submission

Poem Requirements

To qualify, your submission must follow these rules:

• Exactly 3 stanzas
• 15 lines in total
• Original work only (no plagiarism)
• Must start with one of the provided opening lines
• Poem should align clearly with the contest theme

Submission Deadline

All entries must be submitted on or before January 9, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the official contest form.

You will be required to provide:

• Your full name
• Email address
• Location (region of residence)
• Title of your poem
• The full poem text
• Answers to short questions on creativity, nutrition, mood, and mental wellbeing

You may also be asked whether this is your first time joining the Yemipoet monthly poetry contest.

Why This Contest Matters

Beyond cash prizes, the Yemipoet January Poetry Contest highlights the connection between creativity, emotional wellbeing, and basic needs such as nutrition. The additional questions in the form help support research and advocacy around how hunger, stress, and mental health affect artistic expression.

This makes the contest not just a competition, but part of a broader creative and social impact initiative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an entry fee to participate
No. The contest is completely free to enter.

Can I submit more than one poem
No. Only one poem per participant is allowed.

Do I need to be a professional poet
No. Both emerging and experienced poets can apply.

Is the contest open outside Nigeria
The form allows applicants from different regions, but the contest is primarily targeted at Nigerian poets.

Will I receive confirmation after submitting
Yes. Once you submit the form successfully, you will see a confirmation message on the screen.

Can I use AI tools to write my poem
No. Poems must be written in your own words. Originality is required.