This is a list of Nigerian writers.
A
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- Chris Abani (born 1966), novelist, playwright and poet
- Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (born 1998), novelist
- Chinua Achebe (1930–2013), novelist, poet and critic
- Catherine Obianuju Acholonu (born 1951), academic
- Ayobami Adebayo (born 1988), novelist
- Remi Adedeji (born 1937), children's writer and academic editor
- Abimbola Adelakun, novelist
- Sade Adeniran, novelist and filmmaker
- Gbemisola Adeoti, poet, academic, and actor
- Saheed Aderinto (born 1979), author and academic
- Akin Adesokan, novelist and scholar
- Toyin Adewale-Gabriel (born 1969), poet
- Tomi Adeyemi (born 1993), novelist and writing coach
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born 1977), novelist and poet
- S. A. Afolabi (born 1966), novelist, short-story writer
- Adedayo Agarau (born 1994), poet and essayist
- O-Jeremiah Agbaakin (born 1994), poet
- Ifeoma Aggrey-Fynn (d. 2015), writer
- Tolu Ajayi (born 1946), poet and writer of fiction
- Tolu Akinyemi, writer, poet
- Dami Ajayi, poet, essayist
- Yemi Ajibade (1929–2013), playwright and actor
- Audrey Ajose (born 1937?), journalist and juvenile fiction writer
- Uwem Akpan (born 1971), Jesuit priest and writer
- Henry Akubuiro, journalist and novelist
- Hauwa Ali (died 1995), novelist
- Akilu Aliyu (1918–1998), poet
- Zaynab Alkali (born 1950), novelist, short-story writer and academic
- T. M. Aluko (1918–2010), novelist and autobiographer
- Elechi Amadi (1934–2016), novelist
- Ifi Amadiume (born 1947), poet, anthropologist and essayist
- Karen King-Aribisala, short-story writer, novelist and academic
- Yemisi Aribisala (born 1973), essayist and food memoirist
- Nana Asmau (1793–1864)
- Odafe Atogun, writer
- Sefi Atta (born 1964), novelist, short-story writer and playwright
- Adaeze Atuegwu (born 1977), novelist and playwright
- Theophilus Olabode Avoseh (born 1908), historian
- Uche Azikiwe (born 1947), author
- Nnorom Azuonye (born 1967), theatre director, playwright and poet
B
edit- Rotimi Babatunde, playwright
- Esther Bali, writer of folktale stories, playwright
- Biyi Bandele (1967–2022), novelist, playwright, filmmaker
- Bunmi Banjo (born 1977)
- A. Igoni Barrett (born 1979), novelist, short-story writer
- Lindsay Barrett (born 1941), poet, novelist, essayist, playwright, journalist
- Olumbe Bassir (1919–2001)
- Muhammed Bello
- Philip Begho (born 1956), dramatist, short-story writer, poet
- T. J. Benson, novelist and short-story writer
- Omoseye Bolaji (1964–2022)
- Natasha Bowen, novelist and teacher
- Oyinkan Braithwaite (born 1988), novelist
C
edit- Chin Ce (born 1966)
- Chinweizu (born 1943), critic, essayist, poet, journalist
- John Pepper Clark (1935–2020), poet, playwright
- Teju Cole (born 1975), novelist, essayist
- Samuel Ajayi Crowther (1807–1891), linguist, translator, diarist, explorer, writer
D
edit- Usman dan Fodio (1754–1817), poet, political and societal theorist, law and jurisprudence writer
- Abi Dare
- Jude Dibia (born 1975)
- Antera Duke, diarist
E
edit- Michael Echeruo (born 1937), poet, critic
- Amatoritsero (Godwin) Ede
- Chike Frankie Edozien
- Philip Effiong (1925–2003)
- Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki
- Cyprian Ekwensi (1921–2007), novelist, short-story writer
- Buchi Emecheta (1944–2017), novelist
- E. Nolue Emenanjo (born 1943)
- Akwaeke Emezi (born 1987)
- Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745–97)
- Rosemary Esehagu (born 1981)
- Femi Euba (born 1942), dramatist
- Dickson Ekhaguere, playwright
F
edit- Daniel Olorunfemi Fagunwa (1903–1963), novelist
- Adebayo Faleti (1930–2017)
- Toyin Falola (born 1953)
- Dan Fulani
- Bilkisu Funtuwa
- Flora Nwapa (1931–1993)
G
edit- Godspower Oboido (born 1988), poet and essayist
- Ukawsaw Gronniosaw (1705–1775), autobiographer
H
edit- Helon Habila (born 1967), novelist
- Obo Aba Hisanjani (born 1949), poet
- Helen Oyeyemi (born 1984), novelist
I
edit- Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (born 1979)
- Emmanuel Iduma (born 1989), novelist, essayist, and academic
- Jordan Ifueko (born 1993), novelist
- Chukwuemeka Ike (1931–2020), monarch, academic, writer
- Nnanna Ikpo, novelist
- Ejikeme Ikwunze
- Abubakar Imam (1911–1981)
- Eghosa Imasuen (born 1976)
- Tade Ipadeola (born 1970), poet
- Akinwunmi Isola, playwright, dramatist and scholar
- Uzodinma Iweala (born 1982)
- Festus Iyayi (born 1947)
J
edit- John Jea (1773–?)
- Elnathan John (born 1982)
- Samuel Johnson (1846–1901)
K
edit- Toni Kan (born 1971)
- Farooq Kperogi (born 1973), author, columnist, journalism professor
L
edit- Duro Ladipo (1931–1978)
- Abimbola Lagunju (born 1960)
- Logan February (born 1999)
M
edit- Amina Mama (born 1958)
- Sarah Ladipo Manyika (born 1968), novelist, short story writer, essayist
- Oliver Mbamara
- Sebastian Okechukwu Mezu (born 1941)
- Dele Momodu (born 1960)
- John Munonye (1929–1999)
N
edit- Niran Adedokun, novelist, journalist and columnist
- Okey Ndibe, novelist, columnist, journalist and scholar
- Echezonachukwu Nduka (born 1989), poet, classical pianist
- Uche Nduka (born 1963), poet
- Martina Nwakoby (born 1937)
- Nkem Nwankwo (1936–2001), novelist, poet
- Flora Nwapa (1931–1993), novelist
- Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani (born 1976), novelist, humorist, essayist and journalist
- Onuora Nzekwu (1928–2017)
- Onyeka Nwelue (born 1988)
- Chuma Nwokolo (born 1963), writer, poet, humorist, essayist and lawyer
- Abdul Rasheed Na'Allah (born 1962), writer, poet, scholar and performer
O
edit- Chigozie Obioma (born 1986), novelist
- Obiwu (born 1962), poet, theorist
- Moses Ochonu, academic, historian
- Ike Odimegwu
- Josephat Obi Oguejiofor
- Olu Oguibe (born 1964)
- Ike Oguine
- Molara Ogundipe (born 1949)
- Wole Oguntokun, playwright
- Tanure Ojaide (born 1948), poet, critic
- Bayo Ojikutu (born 1971), novelist, essayist, short story writer
- Gabriel Okara (1921–2019), poet
- Chioma Okereke, novelist, poet
- Christopher Okigbo (1932–1967), poet
- Julie Okoh (born 1947), playwright
- Nnedi Okorafor (born 1974), writer of fantasy and science fiction
- Ifeoma Okoye (born 1937), novelist
- Chinelo Okparanta (born 1981), novelist and short-story writer
- Isidore Okpewho (born 1941), novelist, critic
- Ben Okri (born 1959), poet, novelist
- Suyi Davies Okungbowa (born 1989), fantasy and science fiction author
- Afolabi Olabimtan (1932–2003)
- Olatubosun Oladapo (born 1943), poet, playwright
- Ukamaka Olisakwe (born 1982)
- Simbo Olorunfemi, poet, journalist
- Rita Omokha, journalist and author
- Kole Omotosho (born 1943), novelist
- Kola Onadipe (1922–1988)
- Nuzo Onoh (born 1962), African horror author
- Chibundu Onuzo (born 1991)
- Osonye Tess Onwueme (born 1955)
- Nduka Onwuegbute (born 1969)
- Ifeoma Onyefulu (born 1959)
- Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia
- Bukola Oriola (born 1976)
- Romeo Oriogun
- Dennis Osadebay (1911–1995), poet
- Femi Osofisan (born 1946)
- E. C. Osondu, short-story writer, novelist
- Ayodele Olofintuade (born 1970s), novelist
- Ifeoma Mabel Onyemelukwe (born 1950)
- Niyi Osundare (born 1947), poet, dramatist and literary critic
- Onyinye Ough
- Helen Ovbiagele (born 1944), novelist
- Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí
R
edit- Remi Sonaiya (born 1955)
- Remi Raji (born 1961), poet, academic
- Ola Rotimi (1938–2000), novelist, theatre director and playwright
S
edit- Ken Saro-Wiwa (1941–1995), playwright, novelist, poet
- Mabel Segun (born 1930), poet, playwright
- Lola Shoneyin (born 1974), novelist, poet
- Zulu Sofola (1935–1995), playwright
- Bode Sowande (born 1948), playwright
- Wole Soyinka (born 1934), playwright, poet, novelist; Nobel laureate, (1986)
- Ibrahim Sheme (born 1968), novelist, poet, publisher
T
edit- Amos Tutuola (1920–1997), novelist
- Kola Tubosun (born 1981), poet, essayist and linguist
- Tomi Favored (born 1987)
U
edit- Obiora Udechukwu (born 1946), poet
- Gracy Ukala (born 1946), novelist
- Adaora Lily Ulasi (born 1932), novelist
- Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike (born 1975), poet
- Chika Unigwe (born 1974), novelist
- Sam Ukala (born 1948), playwright, prose fiction writer and poet
V
edit- Mamman Jiya Vatsa (1944–1986), poet
- Jumoke Verissimo (born 1979), poet
W
edit- Ken Wiwa (1968–2016), biographer
- Molara Wood (born 1969), short-story writer, journalist
Y
edit- Balaraba Ramat Yakubu (born 1959), Hausa-language writer
Z
edit- Sa'adu Zungur (1914–1958), poet and revolutionary