ON behalf of the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, in partnership with MW & J Consulting Limited, We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Legislative Research Excellence Award. The Award recognises Nigerian professionals whose rigorous research and analysis are shaping legislative deliberations and strengthening evidence-based public policy in Nigeria and across the globe.
This year’s edition attracted hundreds of nominations from within Nigeria and the diaspora. Nominees spanned a wide range of public-policy domains, including data security, election reforms, environmental sustainability, technological innovation, education, entrepreneurship, and economic development. Each nomination package underwent a multi-stage, merit-based review by an independent panel of expert assessors, who evaluated the originality, depth, and demonstrated policy impact of the nominees’ legislative research. Only candidates with the strongest records of influence and leadership were selected.
2025 Awardees
Following this rigorous and competitive process, the Panel of Experts are proud to announce the following winners in their respective fields of public-policy research and legislative practice:
- Dr. Olusola Adeyemo
- Mr. Olumide Timothy Ajayi, Esq.
- Mr. Adedeji Elegbuyi
- Engr. Gabriel Isiaka
- Mr. Kalejaye Josiah
Collectively, these awardees have demonstrated outstanding contributions to legislative research and policy development, providing high-quality evidence and analysis that inform bills, motions, oversight activities, and broader governance reforms. Their work has significantly advanced public discourse and contributed to more responsive, accountable, and future-focused policymaking. Thus, the recipients of this award are top leading professionals with increasing high influence in their field, positive impacts, outstanding contributions, and excellent professional track records.
A Rigorous, Multi-Stage Review Process
To safeguard the integrity and prestige of the Award, all nominations were subjected to an intensive, multi-layered evaluation process:
- Eligibility & Completeness Screening – ensuring that nominees met all formal eligibility criteria and submitted the required documentation.
- Technical Assessment – independent reviewers analysed each nominee’s body of work for:
- conceptual and methodological rigour;
- relevance to pressing legislative and policy challenges;
- documented impact on laws, oversight actions, and regulatory or institutional reforms; and
- evidence of professional leadership and thought-leadership in their respective domains.
- Comparative Scoring & Shortlisting – candidates were comparatively ranked, with conflicts of interest duly managed to preserve objectivity.
- Final Deliberation & Endorsement – the Panel of Experts submitted its recommendations to the Committee, which formally ratified the final list of awardees.
This comprehensive process ensures that each recipient is not only accomplished in their field, but also recognised as a top-tier professional whose research has a measurable and lasting impact on public policy.
Highlights from the Award Ceremony
The Award presentation took place during the Capacity Development Training on Responsible Budgetary Appropriation and Effective Oversight in a Federation, convened under the auspices of the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research.
In attendance were:
- Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research;
- Senior policy professionals and legislative staff;
- Representatives of civil society, academia, and the media;
- Members of the general public; and
- Participants of the national capacity-building workshop.
Awardees were formally decorated with personalised Award of Excellence plaques and received official Letters of Conferment detailing the basis for their recognition. They were also acknowledged as resource persons and thought leaders, with opportunities to share insights from their research and engage directly with legislators and other stakeholders on key policy issues.
Looking Ahead
The Legislative Research Excellence Award is part of a broader initiative to institutionalise evidence-based lawmaking within the National Assembly and to spotlight Nigerians who are at the frontier of policy-relevant research worldwide. By recognising these distinguished professionals, the Committee and MW & J Consulting Limited aim to inspire a new generation of researchers, analysts, and practitioners committed to rigorous, solution-driven legislative work.
Further information on future nomination cycles, eligibility requirements, and capacity-development programmes will be published on this website and the official communication channels of MW & J Consulting Limited and the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research.
Congratulations once again to all our 2025 awardees.