The Federal Government has introduced a new programme designed to recognise and financially reward exceptional academic research across tertiary institutions in the country.
In a statement released 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.
The initiative offers cash rewards of up to N20 million to students whose dissertations and theses show remarkable intellectual depth and commercial value.
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.”
Speaking on the initiative, 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 emphasised the broader objective 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.”
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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.”
Funding for the initiative will be provided entirely by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank, alongside its strategic partners, ensuring that it does not place additional financial burden on public resources.
To coordinate the programme, a 10-member NERD National Laureate Prize Committee has been set up, with Prof. Abubakar Sambo serving as chairman. The committee will handle key processes, including screening submissions and selecting award recipients.
Its membership also includes 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 disclosed that, as part of efforts to honour national service, some awards will be named after distinguished Nigerians. The first prize will be dedicated to Dr Stella Adadevoh in recognition of her courage, professionalism, and sacrifice.
Tertiary institutions across the country have been directed to submit their best academic works, while the Prize Committee retains the authority to independently identify outstanding research.
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For the 2026 edition, submissions are scheduled to begin in May via the NERD portal, with assessments taking place between June and September. Winners will be honoured at the National Laureate Gala slated for November in Abuja.
Members of the public are encouraged to follow updates and track submissions through the NERD portal.
