Nigerian students can win N365m in FG's new National Laureate Prize for research

Nigerian students and researchers have a new opportunity to gain significant recognition and funding through the Federal Government's newly launched Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Prize. This annual scheme boasts a total prize fund of N365 million, designed to reward and elevate exceptional research emerging from universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education across the nation.

Announcing the prize, Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa stated that the initiative directly supports President Bola Tinubu's 'Renewed Hope Agenda.' The program seeks to transform Nigeria's tertiary institutions from mere certificate-issuing centers into vibrant hubs of research, innovation, enterprise, and problem-solving.

The substantial N365 million prize fund is structured to incentivize excellence at various academic levels. It includes an Undergraduate Star Prize of N35 million, a Master's Star Prize of N50 million, and a Doctoral Star Prize of N100 million. Additionally, 15 Thematic Excellence Prizes, each worth N12 million, will be awarded, totaling N180 million. These thematic prizes will be distributed across six key areas: Science, Engineering and Technology; Medicine and Health Sciences; Arts and Social Sciences; Agriculture; Law; and Teaching Innovation. A special Dr. Stella Adadevoh Prize for Excellence in Medicine and Medical Innovation will also be conferred, honoring the late physician who played a crucial role in containing Nigeria's 2014 Ebola outbreak.

Eligibility for the prize extends to students and researchers in all accredited tertiary institutions, whether federal, state, or private. Works such as undergraduate dissertations, master's theses, and doctoral theses are eligible if they demonstrate strong commercial potential, industrial application, or clear developmental impact, while also meeting research integrity and originality standards. Importantly, students cannot submit entries directly. Nominations must be made by their respective institutions through formally constituted Institution Laureate Selection Committees. Each institution can nominate up to 18 entries, six at each academic level (undergraduate, master's, doctoral), generally one per thematic area per level, to maximize their chances of winning.

“

This initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by repositioning tertiary institutions as centres of research, innovation, enterprise and problem-solving rather than mere certificate-producing centres.