By The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled a new national initiative aimed at recognising and rewarding exceptional academic research among students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, with top prizes reaching up to ₦20 million.
According to a statement from the State House, Abuja, the programme, known as the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize, is designed to promote academic excellence, innovation, and commercially viable research outputs. It seeks to reposition scholarly work as a key driver of national development and intellectual advancement.
Announcing the initiative, the Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, described it as a strategic intervention to elevate the value of research and academic achievement within the country’s education system. He noted that the initiative would place greater national recognition on intellectual contributions emerging from universities and other higher institutions.
Under the scheme, outstanding dissertations and theses across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels will be selected annually for awards. Winners in the undergraduate category are expected to receive a minimum of ₦5 million, while master’s and doctoral candidates will be awarded ₦10 million and ₦20 million respectively, alongside national honours.
The government said the initiative also reflects its broader vision of building a knowledge-driven economy, where innovation and research excellence are prioritised. It stressed that the programme would help ensure that academic work is not only recognised but also positioned as a tool for industrial growth and societal advancement.
To ensure sustainability, funding for the prize will be coordinated through the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) in collaboration with strategic partners, rather than placing additional strain on public finances.
According to the statement, a 10-member NERD National Laureate Prize Committee has been constituted to oversee the implementation of the programme. The committee, chaired by Abubakar Sambo, will handle the nationwide call for submissions, screening processes, and final selection of laureates. It also includes representatives from key educational and regulatory bodies.
According to the guidelines, tertiary institutions across the country have been directed to nominate and submit their best academic works for national consideration, while the committee retains the authority to identify outstanding contributions independently.
The 2026 edition of the programme will begin with the inauguration of the committee, followed by a nationwide call for submissions in May. Evaluation is expected to run between June and September, with successful candidates to be honoured at a National Laureate Gala scheduled for November in Abuja.
In addition, the government disclosed that some of the awards will be named after distinguished Nigerians, with the inaugural honour dedicated to Stella Adadevoh in recognition of her legacy of service and professionalism.
The Federal Government urged the public and academic community to actively engage with the process, noting that the initiative represents a major step towards strengthening Nigeria’s research ecosystem and celebrating intellectual achievement at the highest level.
Earlier, the Federal Government also awarded ₦50 million each to 45 Nigerian student innovators through a new initiative called the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG). The grants were unveiled by Education Minister Olatunji Alausa at the UNDP Innovation Hub in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
According to report, the 45 recipients were chosen from 65 finalists who had been drawn from a massive pool of over 30,000 applicants across more than 400 tertiary institutions nationwide
Notably, the grants are equity-free and come bundled with mentorship, incubation support, and digital tools.
The minister disclosed that the initiative is a national intervention supporting the incubation of student ideas into products and services with real-world impact in agriculture, healthcare, logistics and fintech
