FG backs varsities to constitute N365m tertiary institutions national laureate committee
The federal government has launched the 2026 edition of the tertiary institutions national laureate programme, a new scheme designed to identify and reward outstanding academic research from Nigerian tertiary institutions, backed by an annual prize fund of N365 million.
The federal government has launched the 2026 edition of the tertiary institutions national laureate programme, a new scheme designed to identify and reward outstanding academic research from Nigerian tertiary institutions, backed by an annual prize fund of N365 million.
Abubakar Sambo, chairman of the National Laureate Committee, in a letter to vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts and commandants of higher institutions, said the programme would recognise exceptional undergraduate dissertations, master’s theses and doctoral research from accredited universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, monotechnics, military institutions and other eligible tertiary institutions nationwide.
The initiative, described by the committee as Nigeria’s most prestigious academic award scheme for tertiary students, is aimed at promoting research excellence, innovation, commercialisation of research findings and national development.
Under guidelines approved by Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, every accredited institution must set up an Institutional Laureate Selection Committee comprising academics with strong research records and ethical standing.
Institutions are required to formally submit the names and designations of the committee’s chairman, secretary and members as part of the rollout.
Professional associations across key thematic areas will also nominate subject-matter experts to serve on regional laureate selection committees to support the vetting process.
Following internal evaluations, each university will put forward up to 18 entries, six undergraduate dissertations, six master’s theses and six doctoral theses, or equivalents for polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education.
Entries will be drawn from six approved thematic areas: agriculture, teaching innovation, medicine and health sciences, engineering, science and technology, and law, arts and social sciences.
The programme carries star prizes of N35 million for the undergraduate category, N50 million for the master’s category and N100 million for the doctoral category, alongside 15 Thematic Laureate Awards worth N12 million each.
Ita Ekpenyong, the committee spokesperson, said every nominated research work must first be submitted to the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) and issued a valid National Document Number (NDN) to qualify.
The requirement, the committee said, is meant to strengthen research integrity, improve documentation and safeguard the country’s scholarly output.
Entries will go through a three-tier evaluation — institutional, regional and national, which the committee said was designed to ensure fairness, transparency and merit.
Institutions’ NERD Focal Officers will be responsible for activating their institutional laureate selection committees via the focal-person dashboard, giving authorised members electronic access to manage submissions.
Institutions must submit committee member lists and supporting documents by August 15, while entry submissions close on August 31.
Sambo described the programme as a major national investment in intellectual capital and called on institutional heads to provide the leadership needed to deliver a successful inaugural edition.
