The Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Science has announced that no winner will be named for the 2025 edition, citing dissatisfaction with the quality of entries submitted.
Professor Barth Nnaji, Chairman of the Advisory Board, revealed that after a rigorous adjudication of 112 entries, none met the required standard. “To lower the bar would be to betray the trust of the public and diminish the legacy of the Prize itself,” Nnaji stated.
The decision was made after a panel of distinguished judges shortlisted 10 entries out of 54 valid submissions and further narrowed them down to the top four. However, the judges identified serious gaps in practicality, operability, and field testing. Nnaji emphasized that the Prize exists not only to reward scientific output but also to uphold creativity, originality, and scientific rigor as the hallmarks of outstanding work.
The theme for this year’s competition was “Innovations in ICT, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies for Development”. Although no winner emerged, the Advisory Board commended the dedication of all participants and urged scientists and innovators to push beyond effort and embrace true innovation, mastery of craft, and groundbreaking impact.
The Nigeria Prize for Science is one of Africa’s most prestigious science awards, and this outcome is not unprecedented. The prize has been withheld in previous years, including 2005, 2007, 2021, and during the hiatus between 2011 and 2016. The Advisory Board has announced that the 2025 theme will be repeated in 2026 to attract a wider pool of innovators, particularly in the emerging field of Artificial Intelligence.
Dr. Sophia Horsfall, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, praised the breadth of submissions and reaffirmed NLNG’s commitment to advancing science in Nigeria. “The true victory lies not only in winning, but in the collective advancement of science and technology for national development,” she said.
The Advisory Board members, including Professor Yusuf Abubakar and Chief (Dr.) Mrs. Nike Akande, reiterated that the prize is designed not only to reward scientific excellence but also to ensure that winning innovations are practical, scalable, and impactful to Nigeria’s development.
