The Federal Government has unveiled a new initiative aimed at recognising and financially rewarding exceptional academic research in tertiary institutions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, the government announced the launch of the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme, which awards up to N20 million to students whose dissertations and theses demonstrate outstanding intellectual and commercial potential.
The statement explained that “Undergraduate dissertation winners will receive a minimum of N5m, master’s thesis winners will receive N10m, while doctoral thesis winners will be awarded N20m, alongside national recognition befitting their scholarly contributions.”
Announcing the programme, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, described it as “a strategic national intervention aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s educational incentive structure by placing scholarly achievement, academic excellence, and research innovation at the forefront of national recognition.”
According to the statement, Alausa stressed the broader goal of the programme, noting, “By elevating our students to the status of celebrated National Laureates, we are ensuring that the rigour of research and academic excellence is matched with the highest level of national prestige and financial reward.”
He added, “While it is not wrong to celebrate social influencers, this must not be at the expense of innovators. With the National Laureate Prize, we are signalling a new era where a student’s thesis is no longer merely a graduation requirement but a potential blueprint for national industrialisation and development.”
The initiative will be fully financed by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank and its strategic partners, ensuring sustainability without additional pressure on public funds.
A 10-member NERD National Laureate Prize Committee, chaired by Prof. Abubakar Sambo, will oversee the implementation of the programme, including submission vetting and final selection of laureates.
Other members include representatives from the Nigerian Academy of Letters, the Nigerian Academy of Sciences, the National Universities Commission, the National Board for Technical Education, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
The ministry further stated that in a historic tribute to national service, select awards will bear the names of distinguished Nigerians. The first prize will honour Dr Stella Adadevoh for her courage, professionalism, and sacrifice.
The statement added that tertiary institutions nationwide have been directed to submit their best academic works, while the Prize Committee may also identify exceptional research independently.
For the 2026 cycle, submissions will open in May through the NERD portal, with evaluations from June to September. Winners will be celebrated at the National Laureate Gala in November in Abuja.
Members of the public can track the programme’s progress and submission updates via the NERD portal.