The 2026 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation has recorded 237 entries, the highest submissions so far, since its establishment in 2004.
Dr Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Nigeria LNG Ltd. (NLNG) disclosed this at the handover of the entries to the Prize’s Advisory Board on Thursday in Lagos.
Horsfall described the handover as a significant milestone in the prize cycle, noting that it reflected the increasing interest in science, innovation and digital technologies, among Nigerian researchers and innovators.
She said the volume of entries underscored the growing relevance of the prize, as a platform for identifying solutions capable of addressing real-world development challenges.
According to her, the 2026 edition is focused on the theme:“Innovations in ICT; Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Technologies for Development”.
Horsfall added that the theme was retained from the 2025 edition, which ended without a winner, after no entry met the required standard for selection.
“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 the prize remained committed to maintaining global standards and rewarding only innovations with measurable impact and scalability.
“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 said.
Chairman of the Advisory Board, Prof. Barth Nnaji, said the submission and handover of entries marked a major stage in the adjudication process.
Nnaji said the credibility of the prize was built on strict standards of excellence and rigorous evaluation.
“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 said.
He added that all entries would be assessed based on originality, relevance, novelty and demonstrable socio-economic impact.
According to him, the broader objective of the prize is to identify innovations capable of addressing Nigeria’s pressing development 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,” he said.
Other members of the advisory board included Dr Nike Akande and Prof. Baba Yusuf Abubakar.
The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, now in its 22nd year, carries a cash award of $100,000 and is regarded as one of Africa’s most prestigious science awards.
The winner of the 2026 edition is expected to be unveiled at a world news conference scheduled for September.
