By Barnabas Esiet.
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has announced a record 237 entries for the 2026 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, marking the highest number of submissions since the prize was established in 2004.
The announcement was made on Thursday at the handover of entries press conference held in Lagos, where officials said the surge in participation followed extensive engagement with researchers, innovators, academic institutions, and technology hubs across the country.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at Nigeria LNG Limited, said the rise in entries reflected growing interest in scientific innovation and digital technologies in Nigeria.
According to Horsfall, the decision not to declare a winner in the 2025 edition, despite receiving 112 submissions, was a deliberate move aimed at preserving the credibility and integrity of the prize.
She said the Advisory Board and judges refused to compromise standards by selecting a winner whose work did not fully satisfy the prize criteria.
“In this fourth revolution, digital infrastructure is as foundational to our survival as electricity or water,” Horsfall said, adding that Nigeria’s economic sustainability depends on its ability to transform promising research into practical innovation with global relevance.
She noted that although NLNG management was disappointed by last year’s outcome, the organisation chose to deepen engagement rather than lower standards.
According to her, the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation Roadshow was launched to connect directly with scientists, innovators, and institutions, while partnerships were also established with scientific festivals and innovation hubs.
Horsfall said the outcome of those efforts became evident with the 237 entries received this year, more than double the figure recorded in 2025.
The 2026 competition retains its theme: “Innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Information Communication Technology (ICT) or Digital Technologies for Development.”
Chairman of the Advisory Board, Professor Bart Nnaji, described the theme as one of the most critical areas shaping global socio-economic transformation.
Nnaji said the technologies being promoted through the prize have the potential to drive economic sustainability and address pressing national challenges, including healthcare access and cultural preservation.
He defended the no-winner verdict of the previous edition, insisting that the decision underscored the prize’s commitment to excellence rather than a rejection of Nigerian innovation.
“Our refusal to award the prize was not a dismissal of the hard work of Nigerian innovators,” he said. “Rather, it was a statement that The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation holds a standard of excellence.”
Nnaji added that the record number of entries this year demonstrated that innovation within Nigeria’s scientific community remained vibrant and resilient.
He also assured participants that the adjudication process would remain independent, rigorous, and merit-based, noting that the Advisory Board and panel of judges would conduct detailed reviews of all submissions before arriving at a final decision.
“We look at every entry through a lens of fairness, balance, and equity,” he said, stressing that the credibility of the prize depended on consistency in maintaining high standards.
Also speaking at the event, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs at Nigeria LNG Limited, said technology remained the only scalable tool capable of addressing Nigeria’s rapidly growing developmental challenges.
She commended researchers, coders, and innovators who submitted entries, describing their participation as evidence that African-driven solutions to local challenges were already emerging.
Palmer-Ikuku said the increase in submissions showed that last year’s verdict had inspired many innovators to improve rather than become discouraged.
She urged the media to continue promoting conversations around science, innovation, and national development, while expressing confidence in the integrity of the Advisory Board and judging panel.
The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited, is one of Africa’s leading science-focused awards and offers a $100,000 prize to winners whose innovations demonstrate significant societal impact.
Comment here