This is a list of Nigerian writers.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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