By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

ABUJA – The Federal Government has unveiled the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme, offering up to N20 million to outstanding student researchers across the country’s tertiary institutions in a bid to reposition Nigeria’s education sector and reward intellectual excellence.

The initiative, approved by the Federal Ministry of Education, is designed to recognise exceptional academic research, promote innovation, and elevate scholarly achievement to national prominence, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, Minister of Education, described the programme as a strategic intervention to transform Nigeria into a knowledge-driven, innovation-led economy. “By elevating our students to the status of National Laureates, we are ensuring that academic rigour is rewarded with both prestige and financial incentive,” he said.

Under the scheme, financial awards will be distributed across three categories: undergraduate dissertation winners will receive at least N5 million, master’s thesis winners N10 million, and doctoral candidates up to N20 million, alongside national recognition. Select awards will be named after distinguished Nigerians, beginning with Dr. Stella Adadevoh, celebrated for her courage and service.

To ensure sustainability, the programme will be fully funded by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) in partnership with key stakeholders. A 10-member National Laureate Prize Committee, chaired by Prof. Abubakar Sambo, has been constituted to oversee submissions, evaluations, and selections. Committee members include leading academics and representatives from major education bodies, such as the Nigerian Academy of Sciences, NUC, NBTE, NCCE, and TETFund.

The 2026 cycle will begin with the committee’s inauguration, followed by a nationwide call for submissions in May through the NERD portal. Evaluations will run from June to September, culminating in a grand National Laureate Gala in November 2026 in Abuja.

The Federal Government has called on tertiary institutions to nominate their best academic works while allowing the public to track the process via the NERD platform, underscoring the initiative’s aim to inspire a new generation of innovators and position research as a cornerstone of national development.