While anticipations were high for the winner of the 2025 The Nigeria Prize for Science, the Advisory Board of the prize has dashed the hope of many with the no winner verdict announcement.
The verdict, according to the board, followed the judges’ dissatisfaction with the overall quality of entries received.
The verdict has sadly dimmed hope for the $100,000 award, which will not be given out this year, put back in creating more publicity for the Prize, according to NLNG.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Barth Nnaji, a professor and chairman of the Advisory Board, explained that after a rigorous adjudication of the 112 entries submitted this year, none was found suitable for the Prize. He stated that the decision, though difficult, reinforced the Board’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the selection process and protecting the reputation of the prestigious Nigeria Prize for Science.
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He noted that the Prize is not just about rewarding scientific output, but safeguarding the values of creativity, originality, and scientific rigor that define truly outstanding work.
“To lower the bar would be to betray the trust of the public and diminish the legacy of the Prize itself,” Professor Nnaji affirmed.
He commended the courage and dedication of all who submitted entries, noting that their efforts reflect discipline and a desire to contribute to both national and global scientific discourse. He stressed that excellence was beyond effort, and that it requires innovation, mastery of craft, and the ability to leave a lasting mark on human thought and development.
The Board chairman called on Nigerian scientists, researchers, and innovators to be inspired by the judges’ verdict to do more and strive 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,” he stated.
Other members of the board including; Nike Akande, former Minister of Industries and Yusuf Abubakar, professor of Animal Breeding and Quantitative Genetics, also noted that the decision for the no winner verdict for this year’s prize was to safeguard the intergirity of the prize as the submissions did not meet the high standards the Prize is known for.
Speaking at the media conference, Sophia Horsfall, general manager, external relations and sustainable development, she noted that despite the no winner verdict, all the brilliant minds who submitted their works are champions of progress as the breadth and depth of their submissions prove that Nigerian talent is vast, diverse, and capable of shaping the future.
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“You inspire us, and you reinforce our belief that investing in science is investing in Nigeria’s future,” she said, while noting that true victory is not only in a prize awarded but in the collective advancement of science and technology for the nation’s development.
In her vote of thanks at the event, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, manager corporate communications and public affairs, NLNG, noted that despite that no winner was announced, the contributions of the contestants are invaluable as each submission is evidence of the hours spent in laboratories, in fieldwork, in thought and in collaboration.
“The decision announced today by our Advisory Board, based on the recommendations of our panel of judges, reflects the unwavering standards that define the Nigeria Prize for Science.
“Excellence is not always easy to achieve, and sometimes, demands difficult choices to ensure that the Prize remains a beacon that inspires future generations of Nigerian scientists to reach higher, dig deeper, and dream bigger,” Palmer-Ikuku urged.
Meanwhile, the 2025 outcome is not unprecedented. In previous years, in 2005, 2007, and then during the haitus between 2011 to 2016, and again in 2021, The Nigeria Prize for Science was not awarded. Professor Nnaji admonished Nigerian scientists that the high bar set for the Prize should not discourage future participation, but rather reinforce the fact that the Prize will never compromise on its standards of scientific innovation and excellence.
The Advisory Board also announced that the theme for this year “Innovations in ICT, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Technologies for Development” will be repeated for the 2026 edition. The Board stated that the decision was taken to attract a wider spectrum of innovators, particularly in the emerging field of Artificial Intelligence.
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Furthermore, the Advisory Board unveiled the members of the panel of judges. They include: Omobola Johnson, chairperson, panel of judges for The Nigeria Prize for Science. A senior partner at TLcom Capital. Johnson drives investment and value creation in technology companies across sub-Saharan Africa. She previously served as Nigeria’s Minister of Communication Technology (2011–2015) and spent over 25 years at Accenture, including five years as country managing director.
Other members of the panel include: Collins Udanor, an associate professor of Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He specialises in data analytics, intelligent agent systems, and multi-agent learning. He leads the High-Performance and Intelligence Computing Group (HiPIC) and has secured multiple grants from organisations such as UNESCO-HP, Google, Nvidia, and TETFund.
Also, Aminu Muhammad Bui, a professor, and a scholar at the Department of Computer Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Professor Bui specialises in Artificial Intelligence, decision support systems, information retrieval, feature selection, Hidden Markov Models, and educational data mining. His research contributes to advancing AI applications in decision-making and student performance prediction.
Now in its 21st year, the 2025 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Science opened for entries in February and drew a total of 112 submissions.
