FG Launches National Laureate Prize To Reward Nigeria’s Top Student Researchers With Up To ₦20 Million

FG Launches National Laureate Prize to Reward Nigeria’s Top Student Researchers with Up to ₦20 Million The Federal Government has unveiled the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme, an ambitious new initiative designed to reward outstanding student research projects in tertiary institutions with cash awards of up to ₦20 million and national recognition.

The scheme was announced on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, as part of efforts to reposition Nigeria’s education sector, foster a culture of innovation and research excellence, and align academic scholarship with national development goals. Under the new programme, students with exceptional research work in accredited universities, polytechnics and colleges of education will be eligible for annual awards:

• Undergraduate dissertation winners ₦5 million
• Master’s thesis winners ₦10 million
• Doctoral research winners: Up to ₦20 million alongside national recognition as Laureates. Alausa said the initiative aims to elevate academic research from a graduation requirement to a respected national achievement and to demonstrate that rigorous scholarship and innovation can provide practical solutions to Nigeria’s economic and industrial challenges.

“This programme is about celebrating intellect, rewarding curiosity, and inspiring a generation of Nigerian scholars whose research can shape the future of our nation,” the minister stated, emphasizing the broader vision of transforming Nigeria into a knowledge‑driven, innovation‑led economy under the government’s policy framework. To oversee the prize’s administration, the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) in partnership with strategic stakeholders will fully fund the programme, ensuring sustainability without additional burden on public finances. A 10‑member National Laureate Prize Committee has been established, chaired by Prof. Abubakar Sambo, to manage submissions, screening, vetting and selection of winners nationwide. The committee includes representatives from major educational bodies such as the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Nigerian Academy of Sciences, National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), TETFund and the Federal Ministry of Education.

Select awards under the programme will be named after notable Nigerians, with the inaugural honour dedicated to Dr. Stella Adadevoh in recognition of her heroic service during Nigeria’s Ebola outbreak Officials said the 2026 prize cycle will begin with the committee’s inauguration, followed by a national call for submissions in May through the NERD online portal. Evaluations are scheduled to take place from June to September 2026, culminating in the National Laureate Gala slated for November 2026 in Abuja where winners will be formally honoured. The Federal Government has called on tertiary institutions across the country to nominate their best academic works, reinforcing the initiative’s objective to inspire a new generation of innovators and position research as a cornerstone of national development.