By George Ozalla
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) on Monday presented the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation (NPSI) to Dr Mary-Brenda Akoda at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, for her artificial intelligence innovation capable of reducing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan time by up to 90 per cent.
Akoda emerged winner of the competition with GenScan AI, also known as GenMRI/C-MORE, an AI-powered technology developed to speed up MRI image reconstruction while working with existing MRI machines.
The public presentation brought together government officials, scientists, researchers, health professionals, technology experts, policymakers and representatives of medical institutions.
Akoda emerged from a record 237 entries submitted for the 2026 competition, making her the first woman and first millennial to win the Science and Innovation Prize as an individual recipient. The prize carries a cash award of US$100,000.
Explaining the innovation, Akoda said GenScan AI could reduce a 20-minute MRI examination to about two minutes, while a one-hour scan could be reduced to approximately six minutes.
She said the technology does not require hospitals to purchase new MRI scanners, as it is designed to work with existing compatible equipment. This could enable hospitals to examine more patients with the scanners already available to them, while reducing waiting times for patients requiring MRI examinations.
The innovation uses artificial intelligence to reconstruct MRI images from substantially less acquired data, allowing the examination to be completed much faster while maintaining, and potentially improving, image quality.
Speaking at the presentation, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said Nigeria could not compete globally without sustained investment in science, research and innovation.
Alausa said the absence of a winner in the 2025 edition of the prize should have encouraged the country to reflect on the need to strengthen its scientific and innovation system.
He said the 2026 outcome provided a different result, with Akoda’s work demonstrating that Nigerian researchers could develop solutions to serious human problems and compete at international standards.
The Minister commended NLNG for sustaining the prize and said the GenScan AI innovation represented the type of research that should move from the laboratory into practical use.
He urged Akoda to protect the intellectual property associated with the technology and said the Federal Ministry of Education would facilitate access to teaching hospitals and Federal Medical Centres for planned Nigerian pilot programmes.
Chairman of the NPSI Advisory Board, Professor Barth Nnaji, said the decision to select GenScan AI was unanimous.
Nnaji said the judging process was not based simply on scientific novelty but on the practical relevance of each entry, measurable impact and prospects for real-world application.
He said GenScan AI stood out because it combined advanced artificial intelligence with a practical healthcare application capable of improving the efficiency and accessibility of medical imaging.
The 2025 competition had ended without a winner because none of the entries met the standard required for the prize. The AI, ICT and digital technology theme was retained for 2026, with the latest competition attracting 237 entries, the highest number recorded since the inception of the prize.
Akoda is a First-Class graduate of Computer Science from Goldsmiths, University of London. She holds a Master of Research with Distinction in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning from Imperial College London, where she was a Google DeepMind Scholar.
She has also worked as a software engineer and AI research scientist at Microsoft, including at the Microsoft Mixed Reality and AI Research Lab in Cambridge.
The 2026 result marks the 12th time a winning work has been recognised in the 22-year history of the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.
The formal Grand Award Night, where Akoda will receive the US$100,000 prize, is scheduled for Friday, October 9, 2026. NLNG established its Nigeria Prizes to recognise outstanding achievements in science, literature and other areas of national development and to encourage Nigerian creativity, research and innovation.
