Why The Nigeria Prize For Science And Innovation Had No Winner In 2025- NPSI Advisory Board Chair, Prof. Barth Nnaji

By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief

The Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation(NPSI), Professor Barth Nnaji, has shed more light on why there was no winner for the challenge  in 2025.  According to Prof. Nnaji, no winner emerged last year because the high standards for which the award was established, were unmet. Prof. Nnaji, a former Minister of Power, made the disclosure at the NPSI Handover of Entries Press Conference, May 14, 2026, held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, south west, Nigeria.

His address reads in part: “It is a distinct honour to stand before you today. I am following the very insightful opening remark, which has already set a wonderful tone for this event. As an engineering professor and a scientist who has spent years in the laboratory, the classroom and business, I often find myself looking at the world through the lens of data, evidence and scalability. However, today, I want to speak to you as a Nigerian who is deeply invested in the scientific and technological future of our nation.

“The theme we have focused on for the past two years, Innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Information Communication Technology (ICT) or Digital Technologies for Development, is perhaps the most critical topic of our time.

In the world of science, we do not just see gadgets or software. We see these scientific and innovative aspects as the primary drivers of what we call a socio-technical transformation. These technologies are the keys to unlocking economic sustainability and solving the very real challenges that face our people every day.

“I want to take a moment to address the elephant in the room regarding last year’s cycle. As many of you know, last year, after a very long and rigorous review, the Advisory Board made the difficult decision that there would be no winner. Our refusal to award the prize was not a dismissal of the hard work of Nigerian innovators. Rather, it was a statement that The Nigeria Prize for Science & Innovation holds a standard of excellence.

Because we believe so much in the importance of this theme, the Advisory Board decided we should go at it again.

“And today, I am absolutely thrilled to announce that the Nigerian scientific community has responded with even more energy. This year, we have beaten last year’s record, and all other records since the inception of the prize in 2004. The sheer volume of entries we have received is a testament to the fact that the spirit of innovation in Nigeria is thriving.

My colleagues and I are proud of the number of entries. It shows that more researchers and innovators are moving beyond basic applications and are starting to tackle complex problems with sophisticated digital tools. It also says a lot about the volume of work we are doing behind the curtain to encourage scientific and innovative behaviours amongst scientists and innovators looking for solutions to our problems.

“I want to give you some insight into what happens behind the scenes. People often ask, “How do you choose a winner for a US$100,000 prize?” The answer is: with extreme detail. The Advisory Board works hand-in-hand with a Panel of Judges, who we have invited based on their integrity and expertise in their respective fields.

We provide you with our absolute assurance that this is a meticulous adjudication process. It is independent, unbiased, and strictly merit based. We look at every entry through a lens of fairness, balance, and equity.

“It is this consistency, maintained year after year, that has given this Prize its enduring credibility. So, that when someone wins The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, the world knows they have truly earned it.

“Our broader objective is to identify works that bring real, tangible impact to the challenges Nigeria faces. Whether it is using digital health technologies to serve the healthcare needs of our rural populations or leveraging AI for the preservation of our rich cultural heritage and languages, we are looking for solutions that work for us.

To all those who answered The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation call for entries: well, done!

I also want to acknowledge and thank the team at Nigeria LNG Limited. Your commitment to fostering a culture of excellence is truly commendable. You are helping us prove that Nigeria is not just a consumer of technology, but an enabler of it.

“With the formal handover of these entries today, the advisory board and judges’ work begins immediately. It will be a period of intense review, healthy debate, and rigorous testing. We take this responsibility very seriously because we know that the eyes of the nation and the world are on us.

The importance of what we are doing here is underscoring the fact that fundamental research is the bedrock of any great nation. Thank you for your attention, and we look forward to sharing the results of this rigorous journey with you in the coming months.”

The Press Conference was attended by newhounds from the electronic, print and online media, research scientists from the industry and academia, civil society organisations, members of the NLNG Management, and NPSI Advisory Board members, including former Industry and Trade Minister, Dr. Nike Akande and Specialist in Quantitative Genetics and Animal Breeding Professor Yusuf Abubakar.