Mkpoikana UdomaPort Harcourt — For the fifth time in its history, the NLNG sponsored Nigeria Prize for Science has produced no winner, after judges declared that none of the 112 entries submitted for the 2025 edition met the rigorous standards of excellence required for the prestigious award.
Announcing the decision in Lagos, Chairman of the Advisory Board, Professor Barth Nnaji, said the outcome was not taken lightly but was necessary to protect the integrity and legacy of Africa’s biggest science prize.
“After a rigorous adjudication of the 112 entries received this year, none was found suitable for the Prize. To lower the bar would be to betray the trust of the public and diminish the legacy of the Prize itself,” Prof. Nnaji stated.
He emphasized that the Prize, which carries a cash award of $100,000, is not simply about recognizing effort but about rewarding creativity, originality, and scientific rigor that advance knowledge and development.
“The Nigeria Prize exists to celebrate only the finest achievements, work that embodies originality, withstands scrutiny, and elevates scientific discourse. Where these qualities are absent, we cannot, in good conscience, bestow the Prize,” he added.
Prof. Nnaji commended all those who submitted entries, noting that their efforts reflected discipline and a desire to contribute to both national and global scientific conversations.
“Excellence is beyond effort; it requires innovation, mastery of craft, and the ability to leave a lasting mark on human thought and development,” he stressed.
This year’s setback is not unprecedented. The Prize was also withheld in 2005, 2007, during the hiatus between 2011 and 2016, and again in 2021. Prof. Nnaji urged Nigerian scientists not to be discouraged but to view the outcome as a challenge to aim higher.
The Advisory Board also announced that the 2025 theme — “Innovations in ICT, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Technologies for Development” — will be retained for the 2026 edition to attract a wider pool of innovators, particularly in the fast-evolving field of Artificial Intelligence.
The judges’ panel for 2025 was chaired by Dr. Omobola Johnson, Senior Partner at TLcom Capital and Nigeria’s former Minister of Communication Technology, with members including Prof. Collins Udanor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Prof. Aminu Muhammad Bui of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at Nigeria LNG Limited, in a statement reaffirmed the company’s commitment to celebrating scientific excellence despite the outcome.
Now in its 21st year, the Nigeria Prize for Science remains one of the continent’s most coveted platforms for promoting homegrown innovation.
