An artificial intelligence innovation developed to make magnetic resonance imaging faster and more accessible has earned Nigerian scientist and technology researcher Mary-Brenda Akoda the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.
Akoda's GenScan AI (GenMRI/C-MORE) is an AI-powered MRI reconstruction technology designed to significantly reduce the time required to acquire medical images while maintaining or improving image quality. Its C-MORE algorithm uses a one-step consistency-model framework and has the potential to reduce MRI scan times by up to 90% without requiring new MRI hardware.
Faster examinations could enable existing MRI scanners to serve more patients, reduce waiting times and improve access to medical imaging, particularly in a resource-constrained healthcare system.
Akoda was declared the winner on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation press conference in Lagos. Her selection followed an independent evaluation of 237 entries, the highest number received since the prize began.
The Panel of Judges, chaired by Dr Omobola Johnson, unanimously recommended GenScan AI, with the decision subsequently endorsed by the NPSI Advisory Board. The innovation was selected from three shortlisted entries after being assessed for scientific innovation, technical soundness, developmental impact and commercial scalability potential.
The judges found that GenScan AI offered a strong combination of advanced artificial intelligence and practical healthcare application. Its potential to improve scanner utilisation, shorten patient waiting periods and expand access to MRI services was particularly relevant to healthcare systems operating with limited resources.
Professor Barth Nnaji, Chairman of the NPSI Advisory Board, said the unanimous decision reflected the quality of Akoda's work and its potential to address important healthcare challenges.
He said the assessment process was designed to go beyond scientific novelty by considering practical relevance, measurable impact and prospects for real-world application.
Akoda's achievement also marks two firsts in the history of the prize. She is the first millennial and the first woman to win the award as an individual recipient.
The 2026 competition produced a winner after the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation recorded a “no winner” verdict in 2025.
Dr Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, said the outcome demonstrated that the prize's standards remain uncompromising while reflecting the quality and potential of Nigerian science and innovation.
The competition retained the theme, “Innovations in Artificial Intelligence, ICT and Digital Technologies for Development”, and attracted the record 237 entries.
“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 their professionalism, independence and integrity throughout the adjudication process.
Akoda's academic and professional background spans computer science and artificial intelligence. She 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 worked as a software engineer and AI research scientist at Microsoft, including with the Microsoft Mixed Reality and AI Research Lab in Cambridge.
The 2026 result is the 12th time a winning work has been recognised during the 22-year history of the prize, now rebranded as The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.
Akoda will receive the US$100,000 prize at The Grand Award Night scheduled for October 9, 2026.
NLNG congratulated Akoda and all participants in the competition, noting that each submission contributes to strengthening Nigeria's scientific and innovation ecosystem. The company also acknowledged the Nigerian media for its continued role in amplifying scientific achievements and encouraging greater interest in solutions to national challenges.
The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation remains one of NLNG's flagship initiatives for promoting excellence in scientific research and innovation, with the ambition of supporting solutions capable of delivering meaningful and sustainable impact on society.
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