The Federal Government has officially launched the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme, a significant measure intended to highlight and reward exceptional academic research, intellectual brilliance, and commercially viable innovations originating from universities across the nation.
While presenting the initiative, Education Minister Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa characterized it as a crucial strategy aimed at transforming Nigeria's educational reward system by focusing on academic rigor, scholarly accomplishments, and innovative research as vital components of national progress.
The program will recognize outstanding dissertations and theses from accredited higher education institutions each year through the National Laureate Prize. Winners will receive financial awards ranging from N5 million to N20 million across three distinct academic categories.
Undergraduate prize recipients will secure a minimum of N5 million, while master's thesis awardees will be granted N10 million. Additionally, doctoral thesis winners will receive N20 million, along with national recognition commensurate with their scholarly contributions.
To ensure the program's sustainability, funding will be provided by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) and its collaborators, relieving the government of financial constraints.
A 10-member committee, known as the NERD National Laureate Prize Committee, has been formed to supervise the program's execution, which will encompass submission, evaluation, and selection procedures. This committee is chaired by Prof. Abubakar Sambo and includes members from crucial educational institutions and regulatory bodies like the NUC, NBTE, NCCE, TETFund, and the Federal Ministry of Education.
The inaugural cycle for 2026 will commence with the formation of the committee, followed by a call for submissions in May 2026, a review period spanning from June to September, and the culminating national laureate gala slated for November 2026 in Abuja.
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