The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a new initiative aimed at recognising and financially rewarding exceptional academic research in tertiary institutions across the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria, Boriowo Folasade, the government announced the launch of the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme.
The programme will award up to ₦20 million to students whose dissertations and theses demonstrate exceptional intellectual merit as well as strong commercial potential. According to the statement, undergraduate dissertation winners will receive a minimum of ₦5 million, master’s thesis winners will be awarded ₦10 million, while doctoral thesis winners will receive ₦20 million, in addition to national recognition for their scholarly contributions.
Announcing the initiative, the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, described the programme as a strategic national intervention aimed at reshaping the country’s educational incentive system by placing academic excellence, research innovation, and scholarly achievement at the centre of national recognition.
He explained that the initiative is designed to elevate outstanding students to the status of National Laureates, ensuring that rigorous academic research is matched with both prestige and significant financial reward.
Alausa further stressed that while public attention often focuses on social influencers, innovators and researchers should also be celebrated for contributions capable of driving national development. He added that through the National Laureate Prize, students’ theses will no longer be seen merely as graduation requirements but as potential blueprints for national industrialisation and economic progress.
The programme will be funded by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank and its strategic partners, a structure the government said would guarantee sustainability without placing additional financial pressure on public funds.
Implementation will be supervised by the NERD National Laureate Prize Committee, a 10-member body chaired by Abubakar Sambo. The committee will be responsible for screening submissions and selecting the final laureates, with representation from the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Nigerian Academy of Sciences, National Universities Commission, National Board for Technical Education, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
The ministry also revealed that some of the prizes will be named in honour of distinguished Nigerians as a tribute to national service. The first award will commemorate Stella Adadevoh in recognition of her courage, professionalism, and sacrifice.
Tertiary institutions across the country have been directed to submit their best academic works for consideration, while the Prize Committee also retains the authority to independently identify outstanding research deserving of recognition.
For the 2026 award cycle, submissions will open in May through the NERD portal, with the evaluation process scheduled to take place between June and September. The winners will be honoured at the National Laureate Gala planned for November in Abuja.
Members of the public will also be able to track updates and follow the progress of submissions through the NERD portal.
