The Federal Government has introduced a new National Laureate Prize aimed at rewarding exceptional academic research in Nigerian tertiary institutions, with top prizes reaching ₦20 million.
The initiative announced by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa. Who said the programme will recognise outstanding undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral theses produced by students across the country.
Rewards for Academic Excellence
Under the new NERD Annual National Laureate Prize and Awards Programme, exceptional research work rewarded with cash prizes. Which range from ₦5 million to ₦20 million depending on the category.
According to the minister, the maiden edition of the awards scheduled to take place in November 2026. Marking what officials describe as a major step toward promoting research excellence and innovation in Nigeria’s higher education system.
Strengthening Nigeria’s Academic Records System
The prize programme linked to the development of the National Education Repository and Databank (NERD). A national digital platform designed to store, standardise, and authenticate academic records from tertiary institutions.
The platform established with approval from the Federal Executive Council as part of a broader effort to digitise Nigeria’s education sector and preserve academic research outputs.
Rapid Adoption Across Institutions
Within just four months of its enforcement, the NERD platform has already preserved nearly 100,000 digital student submissions that could otherwise have been lost.
Officials also revealed that more than 350 universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education integrated into the system for real-time credential verification.
So far, over 133,000 students and more than 6,800 lecturers have registered on the platform. Reflecting strong early adoption across Nigeria’s academic community.
Driving Innovation Through Research
The government believes the new prize scheme will motivate students and researchers to produce higher-quality academic work. While also ensuring that valuable research contributions preserved and accessible.
If successfully implemented, the initiative could strengthen Nigeria’s research ecosystem and encourage a new generation of scholars. To pursue impactful studies that address national development challenges.
