The country's highest institution of learning, the University of The Gambia (UTG), has issued a strong call for playwrights, novelists and poets to send in their literary works as it prepares to launch the 'Chancellor's Literary Award.'

The award, as is evidenced by its title, is supported by the chancellor of the university, President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh. It is open to Gambians and non-Gambian writers resident in The Gambia who are deemed worthy by the quality of their work.

Among the objectives of the program are to stimulate creative writing, promote the development of literature and also to contribute to the strengthening of literature in The Gambia.
 
The contest will be in the following forms of production: novel, poetry, short stories, novella and drama.

The submitted works will be judged by a panel of jurors who will form a local committee to be selected by the Vice Chancellor. The local committee will comprise 5 members mainly from the Department of Humanities who will shortlist the applicants.

The Chancellor Jury will consist of 7 members - 4 local and 3 international. The jury will also include academics of high standing, writers of various genres and literary critics. There will be at least a female representative.

The award will be presented by the Chancellor, Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, during an official ceremony.