The Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) is implementing a six-month mentorship programme, designed to connect Nigerian early-career researchers with established scientists. The aim of the programme is to strengthen Nigeria’s science and research ecosystem by equipping the next generation of Nigerian scientists with research and professional skills to foster scientific excellence in Nigeria.
NAS therefore invites applications from interested mentors and mentees. Selected candidates should be able to commit up to two hours per week to the mentorship program. They should also plan to attend an orientation workshop to be held virtually in early August (actual date will be confirmed).
Eligibility
Mentees: Early career researchers (ECRs) in higher academic institutions or research institutes, who are actively pursuing a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. To be eligible for this programme, prospective mentees must:
·       be Nigerians, and resident in Nigeria
·       have a doctoral degree received not more than 7 years ago, or currently be a PhD student between the ages of 25 and 35
·       currently engaged in research in any of the STEM fields. Research topics must demonstrate policy-relevant implications.
Mentors: Established scientists who can provide mentorship on mentees’ research, and career goals. Mentors should:
  • be Nigerians
  • have a doctoral degree/equivalent of not less than 10 years
  • have significant research experience/profile
  • have a minimum h-index of 20 and a minimum Google citation score of 750
The call for applications will be open from April 15, 2026, to May 29, 2026. The application forms are available online via the links below:
Shortlisted candidates for the programme will be contacted in July. The mentorship period will run from August 2026 to January 2027.
Deadline for applications: 5pm on May 29, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.
Please feel free to share the attached call among your networks. For further information, kindly contact Blessing Onyema at bonyema@nas.org.ng or 08025590490. Please do not email any application. Only forms completed and submitted online will be assessed. We look forward to receiving your application.