Background
The Olusegun Obasanjo Prize for Scientific Discovery and/or Technological Innovation is intended to reward and honor African scientists who have made outstanding contributions in scientific discovery or technological innovation. The Prize has been named in honor of the former President of Nigeria, H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in recognition of his exemplary statesmanship and leadership at the national, regional and international levels and his contributions to political well-being, socio-economic development and the positive role he has played in nurturing the spirit of scientific discovery and technological innovation in the African continent. 

Among Chief Obasanjo’s towering achievements are:

• President of Nigeria from May 1999 to May 2007; 
• Chairman of the African Leadership Forum;
• Patronage of African Academy of Sciences (AAS) through an endowment fund of approximately US$5 Million.

H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo was a personal friend of the founding president of the AAS, the late Professor Thomas R. Odhiambo, and a pioneer patron whose government made considerable contribution to the Endowment Fund of the Academy. In recognition of the foregoing, and in order to nurture the spirit of scientific discovery and technological innovation that would serve socio-economic development, the General Assembly of AAS upon recommendation by its Governing Council has instituted this pan-African Olusegun Obasanjo Prize for Scientific Discovery and/or Technological Innovation. The aim of this prize is to reward and honor African technological scientists and innovators who have made outstanding contributions either from Africa or from the Diaspora.

The Prize
The AAS seeks to promote and foster the growth of a vibrant African scientific community and to stimulate and nurture the spirit of scientific discovery and technological innovation that would serve socio-economic development in Africa. The Chief Obasanjo Prize will be awarded in each of the following fields:

1. Biotechnology
2. Energy
3. Information and communication technologies, and
4. Material sciences.       

Conditions Governing the Prize
The Olusegun Obasanjo Prize for scientific discovery and/or technological innovation is awarded once every two years to individual scientists or a group of scientists that the Prize Selection Committee deems to have made outstanding scientific discovery or technological innovation that generate social and economic benefits for the development of the continent.  Such breakthroughs may be based on advanced research in higher educational or research institutions or based on empirical observations derived from indigenous and local knowledge systems.

The responsibility for selecting the laureate of the Olusegun Obasanjo Prize lies with the International Prize Committee which applies a comprehensive selection procedure to ensure that those who are awarded the Olusegun Obasanjo Prize meet the highest standards of scientific or technological breakthroughs. Such breakthroughs should have either direct or indirect, but significant positive impact on sustainable development, including management of natural resources, and protection of the environment with national or regional significance.

A major criterion of the International Prize Committee is that the nominee(s) is (are) evaluated on his/her (their) merit and achievement.  The other criteria are as follows:

• The nominee(s) should be actively involved in the scientific or technological area in which s/he has made noticeable contribution; 
• The nominee’s work should be either already patented or has the potential to lead to a patent
• The nominee’s work should have multiplier effect.

Value of the Prize
The Prize, which shall be awarded every two years, has four components:

• A cash award of US$5,000 (this may be reviewed and adjusted by the Governing Council (GC) of the AAS)
• An Inscribed Gold Medal;
• A Citation in form of a certificate and
• Election into AAS Fellowship

The Prize may be awarded to an individual or jointly to two or more persons who will share the cash award in equal amounts.

Eligibility
The Prize is open to all African scientists and technologists and does not recognize gender, ethnic, or geographical differences.  National scientists and Fellows of the African Academy of Sciences are not eligible for nomination.

Selection 
The responsibility for selecting the laureate of the Olusegun Obasanjo Prize lies with the Prize Selection Committee comprising experts in the field of technological/engineering sciences, intellectual property, etc. The Committee applies a comprehensive selection procedure to ensure that those who are awarded the Olusegun Obasanjo Prize meet the highest standards of scientific or technological breakthrough.

The Prize Selection Committee reserves the right to seek further nominations or to refuse the nomination of any person. All material considered by the Committee and their deliberations remain strictly confidential.

All decisions taken and recommendations made by the Prize Selection Committee are binding and final, and no correspondence will be entered into in regard to such matters.  No contractual or other legal relationship shall arise between the Committee, its members or/and any person nominated for the Olusegun Obasanjo Prize for Scientific Discovery and/or Technological innovation.

The review outcome from the Prize Selection Committee is assessed by the AAS Governance and Nominations Committee and ultimately the AAS Governing Council for adoption of the winner/s of the prize.

Nominations
Nominations are to be submitted on The New AAS Online System. Self-nominations will also be accepted. Please follow the instructions below.

Award Ceremony 
The award of the Prize will be made at the General Assembly of the African Academy of Sciences, or any other major event organized by the Academy. In accepting the Prize, the recipient agrees to deliver a public lecture during the Award Ceremony, about the work for which the Prize has been awarded.  The full transcript of the lecture shall be retained by AAS including its copyright. 

AAS will provide airfares to, within and from the selected venue, and all reasonable expenses arising from the Award Ceremony.

How to Submit Nominations
Nominations are to be submitted on the New AAS Online System. Self-nominations will also be accepted. Please follow the instructions below.

•    Follow this link to get to the New AAS Online System: https://nominations.aasciences.africa/login
•    Register as a new user if you have not used the system before. If you have used the system before, please proceed to step 4
•    Go to existing user and log in with your password 
•    Once you log in go to Active Calls
•    Select The Olusegun Obasanjo Prize for Scientific Discovery and/or Technological Innovation 2026 and click on view to begin filling in the online form.
•    Once you have provided all the required information, please validate and submit the form.
•    Please contact Fellows Desk fellows@aasciences.africa if you need any clarification.
 
Nominations Deadline
The last date for receipt of nominations will be 6th October 2026 at 17:00 hrs EAT

Contact
Please contact Fellows Desk -AAS fellows@aasciences.africa if you need any clarification.