The Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria has actually announced the launch of the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme, a major effort aimed at recognising and rewarding impressive academic research study and development across tertiary organizations in the country.
In a press release dated March 31, 2026, the Honourable Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, explained the program as a strategic transfer to promote academic quality and position research as a key motorist of nationwide development.
According to the Minister, the effort will use significant monetary benefits to top-performing students, consisting of 5 million for undergraduate argumentations, 10 million for master’s theses, and 20 million for doctoral research, alongside nationwide recognition.
“This initiative is created to reposition academic work as a valuable national asset, while encouraging development and intellectual contribution that can drive Nigeria’s development,” Dr. Alausa specified.
The programme will be moneyed through the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) in partnership with its partners. A 10-member implementation committee, chaired by Abubakar Sambo, has actually been constituted to oversee the submission, evaluation, and choice procedures.
Tertiary organizations throughout the nation have actually been directed to choose extraordinary research study works, while the committee also retains the authority to individually determine exceptional contributions.
The 2026 edition of the programme is set up to commence with a require submissions in May, followed by an extensive assessment process from June to September. The initiative will culminate in a National Laureate Gala slated for November 2026 in Abuja.