The Federal Government has launched the 2026 Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Programme, unveiling a massive ₦365 million prize pool to reward outstanding research projects by students in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The initiative, backed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, aims to promote academic excellence, innovation and research that can contribute to national development.
The programme is open to students from universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, monotechnics and military institutions, with awards set aside for exceptional undergraduate projects, master’s theses and doctoral research.
The Chairman of the National Laureate Committee, Emeritus Prof. Abubakar Sambo, announced the commencement of the programme in a letter dated July 31, 2026, addressed to vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts and commandants across the country.
The announcement was made public in a statement issued in Abuja by the committee’s spokesperson, Ita Ekpeyong.
As part of the selection process, all participating institutions have been directed to establish Institutional Laureate Selection Committees made up of senior academics, while professional bodies are expected to nominate experts for the Regional Laureate Committees that will evaluate entries.
Each institution can submit a maximum of 18 entries, including:
- Six undergraduate dissertations
- Six master’s theses
- Six doctoral theses
Equivalent categories will also apply to polytechnics and colleges of education.
According to the committee, eligible research must fall under any of the following six thematic areas:
- Agriculture
- Teaching Innovation
- Medicine and Health
- Engineering
- Science and Technology
- Law, Arts and Social Sciences
Prize Categories
The programme offers some of the biggest academic prizes ever announced in Nigeria:
- ₦35 million — Best Undergraduate Research
- ₦50 million — Best Master’s Thesis
- ₦100 million — Best Doctoral Research
- 15 Thematic Awards worth ₦12 million each
To ensure credibility and transparency, all nominated research works must first be uploaded to the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) and assigned a National Document Number (NDN) before they can be considered.
Prof. Sambo explained that the measure is designed to preserve the integrity of Nigerian academic research and create a comprehensive national database of scholarly work.
He added that winners will emerge through a three-stage selection process involving institutional, regional and national assessments.
“The programme is a landmark investment in intellectual capital,” Sambo said.
He noted that the initiative is aimed at promoting research excellence, encouraging innovation and rewarding scholars whose findings have the potential to transform industries and contribute to Nigeria’s development.
The National Laureate Committee urged heads of tertiary institutions to ensure transparency during their internal selection process and provide the leadership needed to make the maiden edition of the programme a success.
Institutions have until August 15, 2026, to submit the names of members of their selection committees, while all research entries must be uploaded on or before August 31, 2026.
