FG’s ₦20m education Laureate prize to drive innovation, economic development – Group

The Tinubu Stakeholders Forum (TSF) has commended the Federal Ministry of Education for introducing the National Laureate Annual Prize initiative to recognise outstanding research works.

In a statement signed by its Chairman Ahmad Sajoh and Secretary Danjuma Sajoh, it described the award as a bold and forward-looking initiative that places research, innovation, and intellectual excellence at the centre of national development.

“This landmark programme, which rewards outstanding student research with up to ₦20 million across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, reflects a growing recognition by the Federal Government that knowledge production is a critical driver of economic growth, competitiveness, and societal progress.

“It sends a strong signal that academic work is no longer confined to classrooms and libraries, but positioned as a valuable national asset.

“The decision to anchor the programme within the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) framework also underscores the administration’s commitment to building a modern, data-driven education system where research outputs are digitised, preserved, and made accessible for policy formulation, industrial application, and global collaboration,” the statement said.

TSF emphasised that the economic implications of the programme are significant, particularly in strengthening research and development (R&D) as a contributor to Nigeria’s GDP.

“By incentivising high-impact research, the initiative supports the growth of innovation-driven industries, boosts productivity, and encourages the development of locally driven solutions.

“We are convinced that over time, this will expand value creation, reduce import dependence, attract investment into knowledge-based sectors, and position Nigeria for more sustainable, innovation-led economic growth.

“It is a timely intervention that will inspire a new generation of scholars to pursue research that directly addresses the country’s pressing development challenges, including food insecurity, healthcare gaps, energy deficits, unemployment, climate change and limited industrial capacity.

“By focusing academic work on practical solutions in critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, energy, technology, and the creative economy, the programme helps align university research with national priorities.

“It will also strengthen healthy competition among tertiary institutions, improve the quality of academic supervision, and align Nigeria’s higher education system with global best practices.

“We encourage stakeholders across academia, government institutions, industry, and the private sector to actively engage with this initiative, particularly in supporting the commercialisation and practical application of award-winning research, so that the benefits extend beyond recognition to tangible economic and social impact,” it added.