The Federal Government has introduced a new national prize scheme that will reward Nigeria’s most exceptional student researchers with cash awards of up to ₦20 million.
The initiative, tagged the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme, was recently approved to recognise outstanding dissertations and theses from students in accredited universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. It aims to promote academic excellence, stimulate innovation, and reposition research as a key driver of national development.
Announcing the programme on Tuesday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, said the prize was created to elevate scholarly achievement to a level of national honour.
Under the scheme, the best undergraduate dissertation will attract ₦5 million, the top master’s thesis ₦10 million, and the most outstanding doctoral thesis ₦20 million, along with formal national recognition.
Alausa described the initiative as a strategic step toward reshaping Nigeria’s educational incentives by placing research and innovation at the centre of national advancement.
“By elevating our students to the status of celebrated National Laureates, we are ensuring that rigorous research and academic excellence receive the highest level of national prestige and reward,” he said.
He emphasised that the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s plan to transition Nigeria into a knowledge-driven economy where intellectual capital is regarded as a vital resource.
According to the minister, the prize scheme also aims to shift public perception of academic research from being a mere graduation requirement to becoming a driver of industrialisation and development.
“While it is not wrong to celebrate social influencers, this must not overshadow innovators. With the National Laureate Prize, we are signalling a new era in which a student’s thesis could become a blueprint for national progress,” Alausa noted.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the programme will be funded by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) and its strategic partners, instead of relying on public funds.
Alausa also announced the establishment of a 10-member NERD National Laureate Prize Committee chaired by former Minister of Power, Prof. Abubakar Sambo. The committee includes academics such as Prof. Solomon Nwhator, Prof. Tolulope Ariyomo, Prof. Francis F. Uba, and Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi, as well as representatives from major national education bodies including the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Nigerian Academy of Sciences, NUC, NBTE, NCCE, TETFund, and the Federal Ministry of Education.
As part of the programme’s national recognition efforts, selected prizes will be named after notable Nigerians. The inaugural honour will be dedicated to Dr. Stella Adadevoh for her heroic role in containing the Ebola outbreak.
Tertiary institutions have been directed to nominate their best academic works for consideration, although the Prize Committee also reserves the right to identify exceptional research independently.
According to the programme timeline, the committee’s inauguration will take place soon, followed by a national call for submissions in May 2026 via the NERD portal. Evaluation will run from June to September, leading to the National Laureate Gala in November 2026 in Abuja, where winners will be formally honoured.
Alausa expressed confidence that the prize would inspire students across the country to produce groundbreaking research that addresses Nigeria’s most pressing challenges.
“This programme is about celebrating intellect, rewarding curiosity, and inspiring a new generation of Nigerian scholars whose research can shape the future of our nation,” he said.
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