Mary-Brenda Akoda has won the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation (NPSI) for GenScan AI, an artificial intelligence-powered technology designed to dramatically reduce MRI scanning time while maintaining or improving image quality.
Akoda’s victory marks a historic milestone for the prize, as she becomes the first woman and first millennial to win the NPSI as an individual recipient.
Her innovation, known as GenScan AI (GenMRI/C-MORE), was selected from a record 237 entries submitted for the 2026 competition, the highest number since the prize was established.
The winner was announced in Lagos on September 8 following an independent evaluation by the NPSI Panel of Judges, chaired by Dr Omobola Johnson, and subsequent endorsement by the NPSI Advisory Board.
The 2026 competition was held under the theme, “Innovations in Artificial Intelligence, ICT and Digital Technologies for Development.”
AI technology targets MRI bottleneck
GenScan AI uses artificial intelligence to accelerate MRI reconstruction, potentially reducing MRI acquisition times by up to 90 per cent, without requiring new MRI hardware.
At the centre of the technology is the C-MORE algorithm, which uses a one-step consistency-model framework to reconstruct MRI images from accelerated scans.
The judges identified the technology’s potential to improve scanner utilisation, shorten patient waiting times and expand access to medical imaging as key factors behind the decision.
Its potential impact is particularly significant for healthcare systems in resource-constrained markets, where the high cost of imaging equipment, limited scanner availability and long waiting times can restrict access to MRI services.
Beyond its scientific novelty, the judges assessed the innovation on its technical soundness, developmental impact and potential for commercial scalability, making its application to real-world healthcare delivery a major factor in its selection.
Rigorous selection process
Speaking at the announcement, Dr Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, said the return of a winner in 2026, following a “no winner” verdict in 2025, demonstrated that the prize had maintained rigorous standards.
The 2026 competition attracted 237 entries, she noted, describing the figure as the highest in the history of the prize.
“If an entry is declared worthy of the Prize today, we can be confident that it has earned that distinction through a thorough and credible evaluation process,” Horsfall said.
She commended the NPSI Advisory Board and Panel of Judges for maintaining independence and professionalism throughout the evaluation process.
Professor Barth Nnaji, Chairman of the NPSI Advisory Board, said the unanimous decision to select GenScan AI reflected the innovation’s quality and its potential to address a significant healthcare challenge.
He said the evaluation process was designed to identify innovations that combine scientific originality with practical relevance, measurable impact and prospects for real-world deployment.
According to Nnaji, GenScan AI distinguished itself by combining advanced AI technology with a practical healthcare application capable of improving the efficiency and accessibility of medical imaging.
Akoda brings strong AI research background
Akoda is a First-Class graduate of Computer Science from Goldsmiths, University of London, and 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.
Her professional background in artificial intelligence and machine learning provided a strong technical foundation for the development of GenScan AI.
$100,000 prize
Akoda will receive the US$100,000 NPSI prize at the Grand Award Night scheduled for October 9, 2026.
The 2026 result represents the 12th winning work recognised in the 22-year history of the prize, which has now been rebranded as The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.
NLNG, which sponsors the prize, congratulated Akoda and all participants, saying the record number of submissions reflected the growing depth of Nigeria’s scientific and innovation ecosystem.
The company said the initiative remains focused on promoting scientific excellence and encouraging innovations capable of delivering sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s development challenges.
The recognition of GenScan AI also highlights the growing potential of artificial intelligence to address infrastructure and capacity constraints in developing-country healthcare systems, while demonstrating the commercial possibilities of Nigerian-developed technologies with applications beyond the domestic market.