The 2026 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation has recorded an historic milestone, attracting a record-breaking 237 entries, the highest number of submissions since the Prize was established n in 2004. The submissions were formally handed over to the Prize’s Advisory Board at a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, marking the start of the adjudication process.

The handover marks the beginning of the search for Nigeria’s most innovative scientific mind, under the theme “Innovations in ICT, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Technologies for Development.” The theme was a deliberate retention from the 2025 edition, which concluded without a winner after no entry met the required standard for selection.

Speaking at the press conference, Sophia Horsfall, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, said the continued focus on digital technologies reflects both global trends and Nigeria’s development priorities. She noted that the Prize remains a platform for identifying solutions with real-world relevance.

“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,” she said.

She added that global recognition for Nigerian innovation must be earned through stringent 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”.

While acknowledging the level of interest the theme continues to attract, Horsfall maintained that expectations remain uncompromising, noting that only solutions demonstrating real impact and scalability will be considered. She added that the decision not to award a winner in 2025 reflects this commitment and sets the benchmark for the current adjudication process.

Receiving the entries, Chairman of the Advisory Board, Barth Nnaji, described the handover as a decisive stage in the Prize’s selection process, emphasising that its credibility is anchored on strict standards of excellence. He reaffirmed that the Prize remains focused on identifying innovations that translate scientific insight into tangible socio-economic outcomes.

“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,” he stated.

He further clarified that the outcome of the 2025 edition, in which no winner was declared, should be viewed within the context of the Prize’s rigorous evaluation framework, which demands novelty, depth, relevance, and demonstrable impact. He emphasisied that all entries will continue to be subjected to the same high level of intellectual and technical scrutiny.

Professor Nnaji added that the Prize seeks solutions that directly address Nigeria’s real-world challenges. “Our broader objective is to identify work that brings tangible impact to the challenges Nigeria faces, whether through digital health technologies that serve rural populations or the use of AI in preserving our cultural heritage and languages.”

Other members of the Board are Chief Dr. Nike Akande, a two-time former Minister of Industry, and Professor Baba Yusuf Abubakar, a professor of quantitative genetics and animal breeding.

The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, now in its 22nd year, is valued at $100,000 and remains arguably Africa’s most prestigious science award. The winning entry for the 2026 edition will be unveiled at a world press conference scheduled for September.

•PHOTO: (2nd Left) GM, External Relations and Sustainable Development, NLNG, Sophia Horsfall, presenting entries for The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation to the Chairman of the Prize’s Advisory Board, Prof. Barth Nnaji, at a press conference held in Lagos on Thursday.

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