Abuja, March 31, 2026 — The Federal Government has launched a new national award scheme aimed at recognising and rewarding exceptional academic research by students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The initiative, known as the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme, will honour top-performing undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral researchers with cash prizes ranging from ₦5 million to ₦20 million.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, announced the programme on Tuesday, describing it as a strategic move to promote academic excellence, innovation, and commercially viable research across the country.
According to him, undergraduate dissertation winners will receive at least ₦5 million, while master’s and doctoral candidates will be awarded ₦10 million and ₦20 million respectively, alongside national recognition.
Alausa said the programme is designed to reposition Nigeria as a knowledge-driven economy by placing greater value on intellectual contributions and research output.
He noted that the initiative would elevate academic achievements to the same level of national recognition enjoyed by other sectors, adding that student research should be seen as a potential driver of industrialisation and development.
“To build a sustainable future, we must celebrate innovators and researchers just as much as other public figures,” he said.
The programme will be funded by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) in collaboration with its partners, ensuring that it does not place additional financial burden on government resources.
To oversee its implementation, a 10-member National Laureate Prize Committee has been constituted, chaired by Prof. Abubakar Sambo. The committee will be responsible for managing submissions, evaluation, and selection of winners.
Other members include academics and representatives from key educational 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 relevant academies.
In honour of national service, some prizes will be named after notable Nigerians, with the inaugural recognition dedicated to the late Dr. Stella Adadevoh for her contributions and sacrifice.
The 2026 edition of the programme will begin with a national call for submissions in May, followed by an evaluation process from June to September. Winners will be announced at a National Laureate Gala scheduled for November 2026 in Abuja.
Authorities have encouraged tertiary institutions to submit their best research works, while members of the public can track updates through the NERD portal.