The Federal Government has launched a ₦365 million annual prize to reward outstanding research by students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Prize will recognise research that offers strong commercial, industrial or developmental value. Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced the scheme on Thursday during a briefing with the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank National Laureate team.
According to Alausa, the initiative supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It also seeks to position tertiary institutions as centres of research, innovation and problem-solving.
Prize structure
The government has divided the ₦365 million prize fund into four categories.
- Undergraduate Star Prize: ₦35 million
- Master’s Star Prize: ₦50 million
- Doctoral Star Prize: ₦100 million
- 15 Thematic Excellence Prizes: ₦12 million each
The 15 thematic prizes are worth a combined ₦180 million. The competition covers six areas. They are Science, Engineering and Technology; Medicine and Health Sciences; Arts and Social Sciences; Agriculture; Law; and Teaching Innovation.
Each area will produce a laureate at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. This means the programme will recognise 18 laureates in all. Three winners will receive the Star Prizes, while 15 others will receive the thematic awards.
Special award for medical innovation
The programme will also feature the Dr Stella Adadevoh Prize for Medicine and Medical Innovation. The award honours the late physician’s role in helping Nigeria contain the 2014 Ebola outbreak. It will go to the laureate whose work and conduct best reflect integrity, national service and protection of the public good.
Who can enter?
The prize is open to students and researchers in accredited Nigerian tertiary institutions. This includes federal, state and private institutions. Eligible works include undergraduate dissertations, master’s theses and doctoral theses. Recognised equivalents from polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education can also qualify.
However, the research must show commercial potential, industrial application or clear developmental impact. Applicants must also meet the required standards for originality and research integrity.
In addition, institutions must first deposit each nominated work in the NERD system. The work must then receive a valid National Document Number. A National Document Number confirms that a work has been deposited. However, it does not automatically enter the work into the competition.
How students can improve their chances
Students cannot submit their works directly to the competition. Instead, their institutions must nominate them through formally constituted Institution Laureate Selection Committees.
Each institution can submit up to 18 entries. The limit covers six undergraduate, six master’s and six doctoral entries across the six thematic areas. Students should therefore focus on producing research that addresses real national problems. They should also show how their work can create commercial, industrial or developmental value.
Students must ensure that their dissertations, projects or theses reach the NERD system before the institutional selection deadline. They should also engage their supervisors, heads of department and other academic leaders. These officials can present strong research works to the Institution Laureate Selection Committee for consideration.
Institutional selection remains the first major stage of the competition. Therefore, strong research and proper NERD compliance can improve a student’s chances of receiving a nomination.
How institutions submit entries
After selecting their strongest works, institutions must submit the entries through the National Laureate portal. First, the institution must constitute its Laureate Selection Committee. Its NERD Focal Officer must then enrol and designate the committee members on NERD. Committee members can access the Laureate portal with their existing NERD credentials after the designation.
Next, authorised members should log into the National Laureate Committee portal and select Manage Institution Entries from the dashboard. The system will display eligible dissertations, projects and theses according to their academic levels. Committee members can then use the available filters to locate a specific work.
After finding an entry, they should select View and confirm that the submission details are accurate. They must also review the submission evidence and open the authoritative student file. This allows them to confirm that the correct dissertation, project or thesis appears on the system.
Once the committee confirms that everything is in order, members must tick the oath checkbox and read the declaration. They can then select Submit Entry to complete the process.
Submission deadline
Institutions must submit their entries by August 31, 2026. Students who want their research considered should therefore contact their supervisors and relevant academic authorities before the deadline.
What happens after submission?
The competition will move through three stages after institutional submission. Entries will first go through the Institution Committee. They will then proceed to the Regional or Zonal Committee before reaching the National Committee. The National Laureate Committee, chaired by Emeritus Professor Abubakar Sambo, will oversee the final evaluation.
The organisers say the process will focus on academic excellence, impact and merit. The government expects to honour the winners at a National Laureate Gala later in the year. The event was previously indicated for November.
Read also: FG Unveils ₦365m Annual Research Prize for Nigerian Students
