The academy of science was established on 18 January 1977, as an association of Nigeria's foremost scientists, but incorporated in 1986.
[5] The Academy's core members are the Fellows: scientists and engineers from Nigeria nominated to be fellow of the academy based on having made "a substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including Engineering, Science, Mathematics and Medical Science".
Thereafter, the candidate will be invited for screening by appropriate Sectional Committees before a recommendation to the council chaired by the president for short-listing.
To be successful, candidates must score at least half of the total votes cast.
[7] The Council is a body of 17 Fellows, including the officers (the president, the treasurer, three Secretaries—one from the physical sciences, one from biological sciences— the Foreign Secretary and the public affairs secretary).