The Federal Government has introduced a new National Laureate Prize programme that will reward exceptional research by students in tertiary institutions across the country, with top doctoral researchers set to receive up to N20 million.
Gatekeepers News reports that announcing the initiative, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the programme is aimed at promoting academic excellence and positioning research as a key driver of national development.
According to him, outstanding theses and dissertations will be recognised annually under the scheme. PhD winners will receive N20 million alongside national honours, while master’s degree winners will be awarded N10 million and undergraduate dissertation winners at least N5 million.
A statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, said the initiative is designed to elevate the status of academic research in Nigeria and ensure scholarly work attracts recognition comparable to other high-profile sectors.
Alausa explained that the programme reflects a shift in national priorities, placing intellectual achievement and innovation at the centre of recognition. He added that students’ research could also provide practical solutions to Nigeria’s economic and industrial challenges.
The minister further disclosed that the initiative will be funded by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) and its partners, ensuring sustainability without placing additional financial pressure on government resources.
He said a 10-member National Laureate Prize Committee, chaired by Abubakar Sambo, has been inaugurated to oversee submissions, screening, and the selection of winners across the country.
The programme is expected to begin with a call for entries in May 2026, with evaluations scheduled between June and September, while winners will be honoured at a National Laureate Gala in November in Abuja.
According to the government, the initiative marks a new phase in which academic research will not only be a requirement for graduation but also a pathway to national recognition, innovation, and significant financial reward.
FG Adopts Results-Driven Model for N12bn Digital Economy Research Clusters
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has adopted a results-driven approach for its N12 billion National Digital Economy Research Clusters programme to ensure funding is tied to measurable outcomes and policy relevance.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja.
His remarks followed an earlier announcement on his X handle inviting academic institutions to participate in the research clusters, a move seen as part of Nigeria’s broader effort to integrate evidence-based research into digital economy policy.
Tijani said the three-year initiative will link funding directly to measurable outputs, with about N1.5 billion allocated to each thematic cluster. He added that the programme is designed to generate practical insights that will inform policymaking while strengthening the country’s research capacity.
According to the minister, each cluster will be supported by three post-doctoral fellows and three PhD students per professor, with collaborations expected with foreign researchers to expand capacity and attract additional funding.
Earlier, Alausa said the research clusters would help position universities as hubs of innovation and talent development, noting that students will gain skills in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and information technology automation.
“Our universities must move from just places where theoretical education has been given.
They must be where the capacity of millions of youths is built,” he said.
Alausa also noted that participants would have access to professional certifications from major technology companies including Google, IBM, and Microsoft.
“It’s not just about the 200 researchers. It’s the cascading effect that will happen afterwards. It won’t stop here. It will just continue to grow with what we’re starting today,” he added.
