Nigeria Prize for Science 2025: No Winner Declared as Judges Reject All 112 Entries
Kathy Kyari
The Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Science has announced that no winner will be named for the 2025 edition after judges concluded that none of the 112 entries submitted met the required standards of excellence.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Chairman of the Advisory Board, Professor Barth Nnaji, explained that the rigorous adjudication process revealed that none of the works rose to the level worthy of the Prize. He stressed that while the decision was difficult, it was necessary to preserve the credibility of the award.
“The decision, though difficult, reinforced the Board’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the selection process and protecting the reputation of the prestigious The Nigeria Prize for Science,” Prof. Nnaji said.
He added that the Prize was not just about rewarding scientific output but about safeguarding creativity, originality, and rigor.
“To lower the bar would be to betray the trust of the public and diminish the legacy of the Prize itself,” he affirmed.
Prof. Nnaji commended the efforts of those who submitted entries, noting that their work reflected discipline and commitment to advancing scientific discourse. However, he emphasized that true excellence required more.
“Excellence is beyond effort; it requires innovation, mastery of craft, and the ability to leave a lasting mark on human thought and development,” he noted.
The Advisory Board encouraged Nigerian scientists to view the outcome as a challenge to aim higher.
“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,” Nnaji declared.
Now in its 21st year, the Prize drew a total of 112 submissions in 2025, this is not the first time the Prize has gone unawarded. Similar outcomes occurred in 2005, 2007, during the hiatus between 2011 and 2016, and again in 2021.
The Board also confirmed that the 2025 theme, “Innovations in ICT, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Technologies for Development,” would be repeated in 2026 to attract a wider pool of innovators, particularly in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
Unveiling the panel of judges, the Board named Dr. Omobola Johnson, Senior Partner at TLcom Capital and former Minister of Communication Technology, as Chairperson. Other judges include Prof. Collins Udanor, Associate Professor of Computer Science (AI) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Prof. Aminu Muhammad Bui of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, both leading scholars in Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies.
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