The Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria has announced the launch of the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Reward Programme, a significant initiative focused on recognising and rewarding exceptional scholastic research study and innovation across tertiary institutions in the country.
In a news release dated March 31, 2026, the Honourable Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, described the programme as a strategic move to promote scholarly quality and position research as an essential driver of national advancement.
According to the Minister, the initiative will use significant monetary rewards to top-performing students, consisting of 5 million for undergraduate argumentations, 10 million for master’s theses, and 20 million for doctoral research study, along with national acknowledgment.
“This initiative is developed to rearrange academic work as an important national property, while motivating innovation and intellectual contribution that can drive Nigeria’s advancement,” Dr. Alausa stated.
The programme will be moneyed through the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) in cooperation with its partners. A 10-member implementation committee, chaired by Abubakar Sambo, has been made up to oversee the submission, examination, and choice procedures.
Tertiary organizations across the country have actually been directed to choose remarkable research study works, while the committee likewise retains the authority to independently determine impressive contributions.
The 2026 edition of the program is set up to commence with a call for submissions in May, followed by a rigorous evaluation procedure from June to September. The initiative will culminate in a National Laureate Gala slated for November 2026 in Abuja.