Adaobi Tricia Obinne Nwaubani born January 1 1976 is a Nigerian novelist, humorist, essayist and journalist. Her debut novel, I Do Not Come to you by Chance, won the 2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book (Africa), a Betty Trask First Book award, and was named by the Washington Post as one of the Best Books of 2009.

Born in Enugu, Nigeria, to Chukwuma Hope Nwaubani and Patricia Uberife Nwaubani in 1976, Nwaubani was raised by both parents in Umuahia (where her father hails from), Abia State, among the Igbo people.

At the age of 10, she left home to attend boarding school at the Federal Government Girls College Owerri. She studied Psychology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria's premier university.

As a teenager, Nwaubani secretly dreamed of becoming a CIA or KGB agent. She earned her first income from winning a writing competition at the age of 13. Her mother is a cousin of Flora Nwapa, the first female African writer to publish a book. In her first year at University, she was a member of the Idia Hall Chess Team, and also a member of the University's (classical music) choir.

Nwaubani was one of the pioneer editorial staff of Nigeria's now defunct NEXT newspapers, established by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dele Olojede.

She lives in Abuja, Nigeria, where she works as a consultant. Nwaubani has expressed concern over the largely somber tone of African novels. She credits Irish-American writer Frank McCourt's Pulitzer-winning Angela's Ashes with showing her that she could write about serious issues in a humorous tone. She is also a great admirer of British humorist P. G. Wodehouse.

Awards

2010 Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book (Africa)

2010 Betty Trask First Book Award

2010 Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa finalist

2012 Nigeria Prize for Literature shortlist

Washington Post Best Books 2009

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