The Federal Government has launched a landmark initiative aimed at recognising and rewarding outstanding academic research among students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, with prizes of up to ₦20 million for exceptional works.
The programme, known as the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize, was approved as part of efforts to reposition the country’s education sector towards innovation, research excellence, and knowledge-driven development.
Announcing the initiative on Tuesday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, described the scheme as a strategic intervention designed to elevate scholarly achievement and promote commercially viable research across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Under the new framework, students with outstanding dissertations and theses will be honoured annually across three academic levels. Undergraduate winners will receive at least ₦5 million, master’s degree recipients ₦10 million, while doctoral candidates will be awarded ₦20 million, alongside national recognition.
Alausa said the initiative reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to redefining national priorities by placing academic excellence and intellectual contributions at the centre of development.
He stressed that the programme would help transform students’ research into practical solutions for national growth, noting that academic work should no longer be viewed merely as a graduation requirement but as a potential driver of industrialisation.
The Minister also pointed out that funding for the programme would not burden public finances, as it will be fully supported by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) in collaboration with its partners.
To ensure effective implementation, a 10-member National Laureate Prize Committee has been inaugurated, chaired by Prof. Abubakar Sambo. The committee is tasked with overseeing submissions, evaluation, and final selection of awardees nationwide.
Other members included leading academics and representatives from key education bodies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and professional academies.
In a symbolic move, the government disclosed that some of the prizes will be named after distinguished Nigerians, with the inaugural recognition honouring Dr. Stella Adadevoh for her legacy of courage and national service.
According to the Ministry, the 2026 cycle of the programme will begin with a national call for submissions in May via the NERD portal. This will be followed by a review phase from June to September, leading up to a National Laureate Gala scheduled for November in Abuja, where winners will be formally honoured.
The Federal Government urged institutions and the public to actively engage with the initiative, describing it as a major step towards building a globally competitive and innovation-driven education system in Nigeria.
