By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.

The 2026 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation has reached a historic milestone, attracting a record 237 entries — the highest number of submissions since the prestigious award was established in 2004.

The submissions were officially handed over to the Prize’s Advisory Board during a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, formally launching the adjudication process for what organisers describe as a critical search for Nigeria’s most transformative scientific innovation.

This year’s competition retains the theme, “Innovations in ICT, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Technologies for Development,” following the 2025 edition in which no winner emerged after entries failed to meet the Prize’s benchmark for excellence.

Speaking, NLNG’s General Manager for External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said the continued focus on digital innovation reflects both global technological realities and Nigeria’s urgent development needs.

“In this fourth revolution, digital infrastructure is as foundational to our survival as electricity or water. For Nigeria, our economic sustainability depends on our ability to move beyond promising research and into undeniable innovation that delivers,” Horsfall said.

She stressed that international recognition for Nigerian innovation must be earned through rigorous evaluation and uncompromising standards.

“We believe that if a Nigerian discovery is to command global respect, it must withstand the highest levels of scrutiny. It is this conviction that guided the difficult decision seven months ago,” she added, referring to the decision not to award a winner in 2025.

Despite the growing interest reflected in the record number of entries, Horsfall maintained that only innovations with proven impact, scalability and relevance would advance through the selection process.

Receiving the submissions on behalf of the Advisory Board, Chairman Professor Barth Nnaji described the handover as a defining moment in the Prize’s journey toward identifying scientific solutions capable of driving socio-economic transformation.

“Our refusal to award the prize in 2025 was not a dismissal of the hard work of Nigerian innovators; rather, it reinforces that The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation holds a gold standard of excellence,” Nnaji stated.

He explained that the evaluation process remains firmly rooted in originality, technical depth, societal relevance and measurable impact.

According to him, the Prize is particularly interested in innovations capable of addressing pressing national challenges, including digital healthcare access for underserved communities and the application of AI in preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage and indigenous languages.
Other members of the Advisory Board include former Minister of Industry, Chief Dr. Nike Akande, and Professor Baba Yusuf Abubakar, an expert in quantitative genetics and animal breeding.

In a Statement issued by Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs noted now in its 22nd year, The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation is valued at $100,000, making it one of Africa’s most prestigious science awards.

The winner of the 2026 edition is expected to be announced at a world press conference scheduled for September.