House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research
in Collaboration with MW & J Consulting Limited

Overview

The Legislative Research Excellence Award is a national recognition initiative of the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, in collaboration with MW & J Consulting Limited. It is hosted as part of the Capacity Development Training on Responsible Budgetary Appropriation and Effective Oversight in a Federation.

The Award recognises outstanding Nigerian professionals—within Nigeria and in the diaspora—whose rigorous legislative research is shaping public policy and strengthening evidence-based lawmaking across diverse sectors, including:

• Election reforms and democratic governance
• Environmental sustainability and climate policy
• Technological innovation and digital economy
• Data security and privacy
• Education and human capital development
• Entrepreneurship and MSME policy
• Economic development, fiscal policy, and public finance
• Other strategic areas of public policy relevant to national development

Only a limited number of honourees are selected each cycle, following a highly competitive, merit-based process.

Objectives of the Award

• To identify and honour leading experts whose research and analysis directly support legislative work and public policy reform.
• To encourage high-quality, innovative, and impactful legislative research that informs bills, motions, oversight activities, and policy frameworks.
• To promote best practices in evidence-based lawmaking within Nigeria and among Nigerians in the diaspora.
• To build a growing network of top-tier legislative researchers and policy professionals who can support the National Assembly and other public institutions.

Eligibility Criteria

Nominees must:

1. Be a Nigerian citizen (resident in Nigeria or in the diaspora).
2. Be actively engaged in legislative research or policy analysis that informs or supports legislative processes at federal, state, or sub-national levels (e.g., parliaments, legislative committees, non-governmental policy institutes, or international organisations).
3. Demonstrate sustained contributions in one or more relevant fields of public policy (e.g., data security, election reforms, environmental sustainability, technology policy, education, economic development).
4. Provide credible evidence that their work has influenced legislation, oversight activities, regulatory frameworks,  major public policy debates, promote innovation in the private industries.
5. Have a professional record that reflects ethical conduct, non-partisanship, and integrity.

Both self-nominations and third-party nominations (by institutions, professional bodies, or colleagues) are accepted.

Nomination Requirements

Each nomination must be submitted online via the official nomination portal. A complete nomination package should include:

1. Completed Nomination Form
   • Basic bio-data of the nominee.
   • Contact details of the nominee and nominator (if applicable).
2. Detailed Professional Biography / Curriculum Vitae
   • Educational background and professional appointments.
   • Summary of legislative research experience and areas of specialization.
3. Legislative Research Portfolio (Flagship Contributions)
   • 3–5 representative works (e.g., bill analyses, policy briefs, committee reports, testimony, technical papers, publications, or major research projects) that demonstrate depth and rigour.
   • For each work, a brief note (max. 300 words) explaining:
     • The policy problem addressed;
     • The analytical contribution; and
     • The impact or uptake (e.g., cited in committee reports, informed legislation, influenced reforms, referenced by government agencies or international organisations).
4. Impact Evidence
   • Documentation showing how the nominee’s research has shaped legislation, oversight, or public policy (e.g., legislative records, citations, implementation reports, media coverage, references in official documents).
5. Letters of Recommendation (Minimum of Two, Maximum of Three)
   • From senior legislators, parliamentary staff, academics, senior civil servants, or recognised policy experts who can attest to the nominee’s leadership, originality, and influence in legislative research.
6. Personal or Nominator’s Statement (up to 1,000 words)
   • Explaining why the nominee represents a top-tier professional and leading voice in his/her field;
   • Highlighting specific contributions that demonstrate extraordinary ability and national or international standing.
7. Proof of Nationality
   • Copy of valid Nigerian passport, National ID, or other official document.

Incomplete or late submissions may not be considered.

Evaluation and Selection Process

All nominations are subjected to a multi-stage, rigorous evaluation process overseen by an independent anonymous Panel of Experts composed of senior legislators, parliamentary researchers, academics, and policy professionals:

1. Pre-Screening for Eligibility
   • Verification of completeness and compliance with the eligibility and documentation requirements.
2. Technical Review
   • Panel members score each nominee on:
     • Originality and depth of legislative research;
     • Relevance to pressing national policy challenges;
     • Documented impact on legislation, oversight, regulatory frameworks, or policy discourse;
     • Innovation in methods, tools, or frameworks used for legislative analysis;
     • Leadership, mentorship, and contribution to the broader knowledge community.
3. Comparative Ranking and Shortlisting
   • Only candidates with the highest aggregate scores are shortlisted.
   • Conflicts of interest are disclosed and managed; evaluators recuse themselves where necessary to ensure objectivity and fairness.
4. Final Deliberation and Approval
   • The Panel submits its recommendations to the Program Coordinating team for final adoption.
   • The number of awardees is deliberately limited, underscoring the competitive and exclusive nature of the Award.

The Committee therefore recognises awardees as leading experts and top professionals in their respective domains, whose work sets a benchmark for legislative research excellence in Nigeria and globally.

Award Package and Recognition

Recipients of the Legislative Research Excellence Award will receive:

• A customised Award of Excellence plaque and formal Letter of Conferment from the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, documenting the basis and significance of the award.
• National recognition during the Capacity Development Training programme, with a dedicated award segment attended by legislators, policy actors, civil society, academia, and the media.
• Feature profiles on the official website of MW & J Consulting Limited.
• An invitation to serve as a resource person or panelist at the Capacity Development Training, where awardees may present aspects of their research, engage with lawmakers, and contribute to policy dialogue.
• Inclusion in a growing network of distinguished legislative researchers and policy professionals, with opportunities for future collaboration on research, training, and advisory work.

Key Dates

• Opening of Nominations: January 1, 2025
• Deadline for Submission of Nominations: April 24, 2025
• Notification of Shortlisted Nominees: July 1, 2025
• Award Ceremony & Capacity Development Training: To be announced later

(Please refer to the event brochure and updates on this website for confirmed dates, venue details, and programme highlights.)

How to Submit a Nomination

1. Visit the official nomination portal at www.mwjconsulting.com.ng/legislative-research-award].
2. Complete the online nomination form, upload all required documents, and click “Submit”.
3. You will receive an automatic confirmation email once your nomination has been successfully submitted.
4. For technical issues with the online form, nominations may alternatively be emailed to mwjconsultinglimited@gmail.com with the subject line:

Nomination – Legislative Research Excellence Award [Nominee’s Full Name]

There is no application or nomination fee.

Enquiries & Contact

For clarifications, partnership enquiries, or media requests, please contact:

Programme Coordinator – Legislative Research Excellence Award
MW & J Consulting Limited

Phone: +234 703 241 5681
Email: mwjconsultinglimited@gmail.com

By participating in this programme, you join a collective effort to strengthen Nigeria’s legislative institutions and to celebrate professionals whose extraordinary research and thought leadership are shaping policy, protecting rights, and advancing sustainable development for present and future generations.