The Federal Government has approved the establishment of the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme, highlighting a statement initiative designed to recognise and reward outstanding academic research, intellectual excellence, and commercially viable innovation emerging from Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Announcing the programme, Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa described it as a strategic effort to reposition Nigeria’s education system by placing greater value on scholarly achievement and research innovation.
Under the scheme, undergraduate dissertation winners will receive a minimum of ₦5 million, master’s thesis winners ₦10 million, and doctoral thesis winners up to ₦20 million, alongside national recognition befitting their scholarly contributions.
To ensure sustainability without placing additional pressure on government resources, the programme will be funded by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) and its strategic partners.
A 10-member NERD National Laureate Prize Committee chaired by Prof. Abubakar Sambo has been constituted to oversee the national call for submissions, vetting processes, and final selection of laureates across the country.
In a historic tribute to national service, select prizes will be named after distinguished Nigerians, with the inaugural honour recognising Dr. Stella Adadevoh, celebrating her legacy of courage, professionalism, and national sacrifice.
For the 2026 cycle, submissions will open in May through the NERD portal, with evaluations running from June to September.
The programme will culminate in a National Laureate Gala scheduled for November 2026 in Abuja, where outstanding scholars will be decorated and celebrated for their contributions to Nigeria’s intellectual advancement and national development.
Tertiary institutions across the country have been directed to assess and submit their best academic works for national consideration, while the Prize Committee retains the authority to independently identify outstanding research contributions from across the country.
