The Federal Government has established the tertiary institutions National Laurette Prize, an annual N365 million initiative to recognise and reward outstanding academic research, innovation and intellectual excellence across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Unveiling the Initiative in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Mauruf Tunji Alausa disclosed in a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations in the Ministry, Boriowo Folasade that the prize is designed to reposition tertiary institutions as centre of research, innovation, enterprise and problem – solving inline with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
Dr. Alausa noted that Nigeria has exceptional intellectual capacity across Universities, Polytechics, Monotechnics and Colleges of Education, but outstanding research and innovation require greater recognition and support to achieve national impact.
The statement disclosed that the Prize will recognize exceptional undergraduate dissertations, with commercial potential, outstanding Masters’ theses and Doctorial research with industrial or development applications across six thematic areas: Engineering, and Technology, Medicine and Health Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Agriculture, Law and Teaching Innovation.
The initiative will also feature the Dr. Stella Adadevoh Prize for Medicine and Medical Innovation, houring the late Nigerian physician.
The statement in conclusion stated that the Federal Government said the programme will promote research, commercialisation, preserve Nigeria’s intellectual output and strengthen the connection between tertiary education, industry and national development.
