The Federal Government has launched the Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Prize, an annual ₦365 million initiative aimed at recognising and rewarding outstanding research, innovation and intellectual excellence among students and researchers across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the opening of the prize in a post on X on Thursday, saying the initiative was part of the government’s efforts to support academic excellence.
The prize will provide ₦35 million for the Undergraduate Star Prize, ₦50 million for the Master’s Star Prize and ₦100 million for the Doctoral Star Prize.
A further ₦180 million will be allocated to 15 Thematic Excellence Prizes, with each category receiving ₦12 million.
According to Alausa, the competition is open to students and researchers in all accredited universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.
He said the initiative would provide a national platform for identifying and rewarding research and innovations with significant impact.
“It is my pleasure to announce the opening of the Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Prize.
“As part of our commitment to supporting student excellence, the National Laureate Prize is a new national platform to celebrate and reward outstanding research, innovation and intellectual excellence across our universities, polytechnics and colleges of education,” Alausa wrote.
The minister said the award would also recognise excellence in key fields, including Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Agriculture, Law and Teaching Innovation.
He added that the government had introduced the Dr Stella Adadevoh Prize for Medicine and Medical Innovation in honour of the late physician’s courage and contribution to Nigeria.
Alausa said he had held a press briefing with members of the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) National Laureate team, where the government formally presented the prize, its structure, implementation process and selection criteria.
He said the prize would be jointly implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education and NERD through a “transparent, competitive and merit-driven process” focused on academic excellence and impact.
According to the minister, the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration’s focus on human capital development, research and innovation.
“The President has continued to demonstrate his commitment to investing in Nigeria’s human capital and giving our young people the platforms they need to compete, innovate and succeed,” he said.
Alausa said the ultimate objective was to strengthen an education system that goes beyond awarding certificates to producing practical solutions, innovations, enterprises and measurable national value.
