Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The National Laureate Committee has extended the deadline for the submission of institutional entries for the 2026 National Laureate Programme from August 31 to September 15, following requests by tertiary institutions for additional time to complete their internal selection processes.
The committee said the extension would allow participating universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of education, military institutions and other eligible tertiary institutions to conclude their selection processes and submit approved research entries for the maiden edition of the programme.
In a statement issued in Abuja by its spokesperson, Ita Ekpenyong, the committee explained that the additional window would also enable institutions to firm up their respective Institutional Laureate Selection Committees before forwarding their entries.
The National Laureate Programme was inaugurated by the federal government under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, as part of efforts to strengthen the recognition and reward system for academic research and innovation in Nigeria.
The programme is designed as a national platform for identifying, evaluating, celebrating and rewarding exceptional undergraduate dissertations, master’s theses and doctoral research produced in accredited Nigerian tertiary institutions.
According to the committee, the initiative is supported by an annual research prize fund of N365 million and is expected to promote research excellence while strengthening Nigeria’s knowledge and innovation ecosystem.
Under the framework approved for the 2026 edition, each eligible institution is permitted to submit up to 18 outstanding research works, comprising six undergraduate dissertations, six master’s theses and six doctoral or PhD theses.
Equivalent research works from polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of education and other eligible tertiary institutions will also be considered under the programme’s guidelines.
The committee said all approved institutional entries must now be submitted on or before September 15 through the approved submission channels of the National Laureate Programme.
It added that it remained committed to ensuring that the initiative provided a credible and prestigious platform for recognising outstanding scholarship and encouraging research and innovation across Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Further information on the programme, including detailed guidelines, committee manuals and application procedures, it stressed, is available through the official National Laureate Programme channels.
