The Federal Government has approved the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme to celebrate excellence in academic research and innovation across tertiary institutions in the country.
The Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, described the initiative as a strategic effort to promote scholarly excellence and position research as a key driver of national development.
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Under the programme, top-performing students will receive cash awards of ₦5 million for outstanding undergraduate dissertations, ₦10 million for exceptional master’s theses, and ₦20 million for groundbreaking doctoral research, in addition to national recognition.
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Dr. Alausa explained that the initiative aims to reposition academic work as a national asset, fostering innovation and encouraging intellectual contributions that benefit society.
The programme will be funded by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank and its partners. A 10-member committee, chaired by Prof. Abubakar Sambo, has been established to oversee all aspects of implementation, including submission, evaluation, and selection processes.
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Tertiary institutions have been directed to nominate outstanding research, while the committee may also identify exceptional works independently.
The 2026 cycle will begin with a call for submissions in May, followed by evaluations from June to September, and will culminate with a National Laureate Gala in November 2026 in Abuja.