Nigeria Prize for Science & Innovation 2026 draws record 237 entries

The 2026 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation received a record‑breaking 237 submissions, the highest number since the award was launched in 2004. The entries were handed over to the prize’s Advisory Board in Lagos, chaired by Professor Barth Nnaji, under the theme “Innovations in ICT, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Technologies for Development.”

The theme continues from the 2025 edition, which concluded without a winner after none of the entries met the prize’s stringent standards. Sophia Horsfall, General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, said the focus on digital technologies reflects both global trends and Nigeria’s development priorities, emphasizing that “digital infrastructure is as foundational to our survival as electricity or water.” The prize, now in its 22nd year and valued at $100,000, will announce its winner later this year.