Mary-Brenda Akoda has emerged as the winner of the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation (NPSI), earning the prestigious $100,000 award for GenScan AI, an artificial intelligence-powered technology designed to make MRI scans significantly faster.
Akoda was announced as the winner on September 8, 2026, in Lagos following an independent evaluation by the Prize’s Panel of Judges and approval by the NPSI Advisory Board.
Her win marks two milestones in the history of the prize. She is the first woman and first millennial to win the award as an individual recipient.
GenScan AI, also known as GenMRI/C-MORE, was selected from a record 237 entries submitted during the 2026 competition cycle. The innovation stood out among the shortlisted entries for its combination of scientific innovation, technical strength, potential developmental impact and prospects for commercial application.
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An AI Solution for Faster MRI Scans
At the centre of Akoda’s winning work is C-MORE, a one-step consistency-model framework that reconstructs MRI images using artificial intelligence.
According to the information presented by the organisers, the technology has the potential to reduce MRI scan times by up to 90 per cent while maintaining or improving image quality. Importantly, the system is designed to work without requiring hospitals to purchase new MRI hardware.
The potential impact goes beyond making scans quicker.
MRI services can be limited by the availability and utilisation of expensive scanning equipment. Faster scans could allow healthcare facilities to examine more patients using existing machines, reduce waiting times and potentially improve access to medical imaging.
The judges considered this particularly relevant to resource-constrained healthcare systems such as Nigeria, where access to advanced medical imaging can remain limited.
The winning innovation was therefore recognised not simply for applying AI to healthcare, but for addressing a practical challenge with the potential for real-world impact.
A Record Year for the Nigeria Prize
The 2026 competition attracted 237 entries, the highest number recorded since the prize began.
The entries were assessed on scientific innovation, technical soundness, developmental impact and commercial scalability. The Panel of Judges, chaired by Dr Omobola Johnson, unanimously recommended GenScan AI for the award, with the decision subsequently endorsed by the NPSI Advisory Board.
Professor Barth Nnaji, Chairman of the Advisory Board, said the innovation stood out because it combined advanced AI with a practical healthcare application capable of improving the efficiency and accessibility of medical imaging.
The result also follows a “no winner” verdict in 2025, with NLNG’s General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr Sophia Horsfall, saying the latest outcome demonstrates that the prize’s standards remain uncompromising.
The 2026 award represents the 12th time a winning work has been recognised in the 22-year history of the prize, which has now been rebranded as The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.
Akoda will formally receive the $100,000 prize at the Grand Award Night scheduled for October 9, 2026.
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From Computer Science to AI Research
Akoda’s academic and professional background spans computer science, artificial intelligence and technology research.
She is a First-Class Computer Science graduate of 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 with the Microsoft Mixed Reality and AI Research Lab in Cambridge.
Her recognition places a spotlight not only on an individual achievement, but on the potential of Nigerian researchers and innovators to develop technology that addresses practical challenges.
For NLNG, the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation is intended to encourage scientific excellence and support innovations capable of delivering meaningful and sustainable impact on society.
Akoda’s GenScan AI demonstrates what that can look like when advanced technology is directed at a problem with immediate relevance to healthcare.
At RefinedNG, we spotlight Africans like Mary-Brenda Akoda whose ideas, talent and innovation are creating solutions that matter. Follow RefinedNG for more stories on African science, technology and excellence.