By Anthony Isibor
AN artificial intelligence-powered MRI reconstruction technology designed to significantly reduce medical imaging time has won the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited, NLNG.
The winning innovation, GenScan AI, developed by Mary Brenda Akoda, was announced on Tuesday in Lagos after a rigorous evaluation by an independent panel of judges.
The technology addresses a major healthcare challenge by reducing the time required to acquire MRI scans while maintaining, and potentially improving, image quality.
Prof. Bart Nnaji, Chairman of the advisory board for the prize said the innovation could enable hospitals and diagnostic centres to examine more patients with existing MRI infrastructure, potentially reducing waiting times and allowing earlier diagnosis.
He said the 2026 competition was particularly significant because the theme, “Innovations in Artificial Intelligence, ICT or Digital Technologies for Development,” was retained from the 2025 edition, which ended without a winner after the judges determined that none of the entries met the required standard.
The decision to retain the theme attracted a record 237 entries, the highest number of submissions since the prize was established.
According to the advisory board chairman, the large number of entries demonstrated the capacity of Nigerian innovators to develop technology-driven solutions to real-world problems.
“Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are reshaping every aspect of human life, from healthcare and education to agriculture, finance, energy and entertainment,” he said.
Three innovations were eventually shortlisted as finalists.
They were GenScan AI by Mary Brenda Akoda; Ewa DX Smart Bra Diagnostic Device by Tevishola Bolari; and MedBrain, an innovation focused on the accuracy and reliability of AI-assisted triage and diagnosis of common acute paediatric conditions in Ethiopia, developed by Paul Ricard and Paul Demoke.
The judges assessed the finalists based on innovation, impact, technical depth, scalability and practical application.
The advisory board chairman said GenScan AI emerged as the unanimous winner after consistently recording the highest scores across the judges.
He described the technology as directly addressing a critical healthcare challenge by reducing MRI acquisition time without compromising image quality.
“This means that hospitals and diagnostic centres can serve more patients using existing infrastructure, while improving diagnostic efficiency and expanding access to quality healthcare,” he said.
The statement noted that a survey published in the Pan African Medical Journal in 2018 reported that Nigeria had 58 installed MRI machines between 2016 and 2018.
While the current number of functional MRI units is not publicly confirmed in a single up-to-date official database, the advisory board said GenScan AI could potentially increase the effective capacity of existing compatible scanners without requiring diagnostic centres to purchase additional machines.
By reducing the time spent on each examination, the technology could help imaging centres handle more patients, reduce waiting lists and facilitate earlier diagnosis.
The advisory board chairman said this outcome reflected the central objective of the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation — supporting innovations capable of improving lives.
He commended the 2026 participants and NLNG for maintaining the integrity and standard of the prize.
“Your work contributes to the advancement of knowledge and the development of more solutions that can potentially transform lives,” he said.
He also congratulated Akoda on winning the 2026 prize and thanked the stakeholders supporting the initiative.
The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation is sponsored by NLNG as part of its commitment to supporting scientific research and innovation capable of addressing societal challenges.