FG Launches National Laureate Prize, Offering Up to ₦20 Million for Outstanding Student Research
The Federal Government has unveiled a new National Laureate Prize Programme aimed at rewarding exceptional student researchers, with PhD candidates eligible to receive up to ₦20 million annually for outstanding academic work.
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Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as a bold step to promote academic excellence and position research as a key driver of national development. Under the programme, doctoral graduates will receive ₦20 million, master’s degree winners ₦10 million, and exceptional undergraduate dissertations at least ₦5 million.
According to Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, the scheme aims to elevate the status of academic research and place it on par with high-impact sectors. Alausa noted that student research could provide practical solutions to Nigeria’s economic and industrial challenges, reflecting a shift in national priorities toward intellectual achievement and innovation.
The programme will be funded by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) and its partners, ensuring sustainability without additional financial burden on government resources. A 10-member National Laureate Prize Committee, chaired by Abubakar Sambo, has been inaugurated to oversee submissions, screening, and selection of winners. Entries for the maiden edition will open in May 2026, with evaluations from June to September, and winners to be honoured at a National Laureate Gala in Abuja in November.
In a related development, the government also announced a ₦12 billion National Digital Economy Research Clusters programme, adopting a results-driven model linking funding to measurable outcomes and policy relevance. Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, explained that each of the three-year programme’s thematic clusters will receive about ₦1.5 billion and be supported by postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, and international collaborations.
The government said both initiatives signal a new direction for Nigeria’s education sector, where research is recognized not only as an academic requirement but also as a pathway to innovation, national recognition, and economic growth.
FG Launches National Laureate Prize, Offering Up to ₦20 Million for Outstanding Student Research