The Federal Government has launched the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme to honour outstanding research by students in tertiary institutions. Undergraduate winners will receive N5 million, master's winners N10 million, and doctoral winners N20 million in the 2026 cycle. The Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD), along with partners, will fund and manage the programme. A 10-member committee led by Prof. Abubakar Sambo will oversee submissions, evaluation, and selection. Tertiary institutions are to nominate exceptional research, though the committee may also identify entries independently. The call for submissions begins in May 2026, with evaluations running from June to September. The National Laureate Gala, where winners will be announced, will take place in Abuja in November 2026.
The introduction of cash rewards up to N20 million by the Federal Government through the National Laureate Prize could significantly boost student engagement in research at Nigerian universities. For students, this creates a rare opportunity for both financial support and national recognition directly tied to academic work.
