Dr Joseph Onoja
Director General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation
FREE TO ENTER · DEADLINE JULY 31ST 2026
Celebrating our national natural heritage through The Lens
Much of Nigeria’s natural liferemains unseen & underappreciated
Nigeria's natural world is rich, vast, and largely unseen.
It sustains the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we grow yet much of it goes unnoticed. With over 6000 species of plants and animals, many still undiscovered, the Nigeria Nature Photography Awards exists to change that.
The Nigeria Nature Photography Awards exists to strengthen public appreciation for Nigeria’s biodiversity and natural heritage by recognizing exceptional nature photography, amplifying stories that reveal our connection to nature, and engaging audiences through competitions, awards, and exhibitions.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for strong, real, and meaningful images of nature in Nigeria: plants, animals, ecosystems, natural phenomena and human-nature interactions.
YOU WILL BE JUDGED ON
RARITY & SIGNIFICANCE
- Rarity of species, behaviour, or moment captured
- Representation of Nigeria's biodiversity
- Cultural or conservation relevance
CREATIVITY & STORYTELLING
- Originality of perspective
- Emotional or educational impact
- Communicates key message about the environment
TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE
- Sharpness and clarity
- Exposure and lighting
- Composition and framing
- Effective use of colour, contrast, and depth
MEET THE JUDGES
Beyond the opportunity to win prizes, the Nigeria Nature Photography Awards offers photographers the chance to have their work assessed by a distinguished panel of experts in conservation, biodiversity, and visual storytelling.
Please note that all entries will undergo an eligibility review before being submitted to the judging panel. Eligible entries will be shortlisted and assessed by the judges after the submission period has closed. Additional judges may be announced during the submission period.
Sikeade Egbuwalo
Nigeria's National Focal Point for the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity
Nela Ekpenyong
Managing Partner at Obudu Capital, CEO of LEGA.C Capital, WildAfrica Ambassador
Niyi Fagbemi
Travel and documentary filmmaker
Anthony Ochieng Onyango
Conservation and underwater photographer and National Geographic Explorer
JOIN THE CHALLENGEAND STAND A CHANCE TO WIN
SELECTED PHOTOGRAPHS WILL ALSO BE:
Promoted on
social media
Printed and
exhibited publicly
Recognized
internationally
OVERALL WINNER
₦1,500,000
RUNNER-UP WINNER
₦1,000,000
THIRD PLACE
₦500,000
STEPS ON HOW TOJOIN THE CHALLENGE
Submissions are now closed. You can still read the competition guidelines and entry process to prepare for the next edition of the Nigeria Nature Photography Awards.
01.
Create an Account and Become a Contributor
Create an account on Ninthgrid . Once your account is created, click the Become a Contributor button to activate your contributor profile.
02.
Upload Your Images
Start uploading your images to the platform. You can upload up to 10 images at a time, and all uploaded images will automatically be saved as Drafts.
03.
Complete Your Submission Details
Go to your drafts and click Edit on each image. Fill in all the required information, then select Nigerian Nature Photography Award as the campaign you are submitting for.
04.
Submit for Review
Review your information and click Submit. Our team will review your images and approve them if they meet the submission requirements and guidelines, or reject them if they do not.
Have any questions on the submission process? Reach out to contributor@ninthgrid.com
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Deadline:
JULY 31ST 2026 (23:59 WAT)
THIS AWARD IS MADE POSSIBLE
THROUGH COLLABORATION:
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FREQUENTLY ASKEDQUESTIONS
Anyone over 18
All images must be taken in Nigeria.
Up to 20 images
Basic editing is allowed in terms of photo contrast, exposure, and highlights. No AI or deceptive manipulation.
Yes. Photographers retain copyright to their images, but by entering the competition they grant the organisers and Ninthgrid permission to use submitted photographs for the competition, promotion, exhibition, and licensing on the Ninthgrid platform.
Through the NinthGrid submission portal.
Read the competition rules here or contact us at info@nnpawards.com