NLNG Sets New Benchmark as Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation Records Historic 237 Entries
By: Momentous Magazine
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has recorded a historic milestone in the 2026 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, receiving an unprecedented 237 entries — the highest number of submissions since the prestigious award was established in 2004.
The development signals a renewed wave of confidence and participation within Nigeria’s scientific and innovation ecosystem, particularly following the widely discussed decision not to produce a winner in the 2025 edition of the prize.
The announcement was made on Thursday during the official handover of entries ceremony held in Lagos, where NLNG executives and members of the Advisory Board described the surge in participation as evidence of growing national interest in research, technology, and innovation-driven development.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at Nigeria LNG Limited, said the record-breaking entries reflected increasing awareness among researchers, innovators, technology experts, and academic institutions about the importance of science and digital innovation in national development.
Horsfall explained that although the 2025 edition attracted 112 submissions, the Advisory Board and judges decided against naming a winner because none of the entries fully met the rigorous standards of the competition.
According to her, the decision was necessary to preserve the integrity and credibility of one of Africa’s most respected science prizes.
“In this fourth industrial revolution, digital infrastructure is as foundational to our survival as electricity or water,” she said.
She stressed that Nigeria’s long-term economic sustainability would depend largely on its ability to convert research and innovation into scalable solutions with global relevance and local impact.
Rather than lowering standards after the no-winner verdict, Horsfall said NLNG intensified its engagement with the scientific community through nationwide roadshows, partnerships with innovation hubs, research institutions, and technology festivals.
She noted that the outcome of those efforts is now evident in the record number of submissions received for the 2026 edition.
The 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 timely and critical, given the growing role of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in shaping economies and solving real-world challenges.
According to Nnaji, the innovations being encouraged through the prize have the potential to improve healthcare delivery, strengthen economic productivity, preserve cultural heritage, and address several developmental gaps confronting Nigeria and Africa.
He defended the Advisory Board’s decision not to award the 2025 prize, insisting that the move should be seen as a commitment to excellence rather than a rejection of Nigerian creativity and 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 maintained that the increase in entries this year demonstrates the resilience, creativity, and determination within Nigeria’s scientific and innovation community.
He also assured participants that the adjudication process would remain independent, transparent, and merit-driven, emphasizing that every submission would undergo detailed evaluation by the Advisory Board and the panel of judges.
“We look at every entry through a lens of fairness, balance, and equity,” he added.
Also speaking, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs at NLNG, described technology as one of the most effective tools for tackling Nigeria’s rapidly expanding developmental challenges.
She commended the scientists, software developers, researchers, and innovators who participated in the competition, saying their entries demonstrate that African-led solutions to local problems are steadily gaining momentum.
Palmer-Ikuku observed that rather than discouraging innovators, the no-winner outcome of the previous edition appears to have inspired many participants to improve the quality of their work.
She further called on the media to sustain conversations around science, innovation, and technology-driven development, while expressing confidence in the transparency and credibility of the selection process.
Sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited, the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation is regarded as one of Africa’s leading science-focused awards. The prize carries a cash award of 100,000 US dollars for innovations considered to have significant societal impact.
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