BREAKING: Federal Government unveils ₦20 million National Laureate Prize for exceptional students, researchers

Education, Politics

ABUJA, NIGERIA, 01 April 2026 (NPA) — The Federal Ministry of Education has announced the launch of the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme, a groundbreaking initiative designed to reward exceptional academic research and innovation in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

In a press release issued on 31 March, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, described the programme as a strategic effort to elevate scholarly excellence and position research as a driver of national development.

According to Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations, the prize will award ₦5 million for outstanding undergraduate dissertations, ₦10 million for master’s theses, and ₦20 million for doctoral research. Winners will also receive national recognition at a high-profile gala.

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Dr Alausa emphasised that the initiative seeks to reposition academic work as a valuable national asset, encouraging innovation and intellectual contribution. The programme will be funded by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) and its partners, with a 10-member committee chaired by Professor Abubakar Sambo overseeing submissions, evaluations, and selections.

Tertiary institutions have been directed to nominate outstanding research, while the committee retains the authority to 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 in the National Laureate Gala in Abuja this November.

The Ministry noted that the prize marks a decisive shift in Nigeria’s academic landscape, contrasting the neglect of scholarly achievement with the lavish rewards often given to reality television contestants. 

The new programme is a complete departure from a culture where academics are overlooked while participants in TV reality shows walk away with over a hundred million naira for appearing half-naked on national television.