Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has presented GenScan AI, the winning entry of The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation (NPSI) 2026, to stakeholders in Abuja, highlighting its potential to significantly reduce MRI scan times and improve access to diagnostic services.
Developed by Mary-Brenda Akoda, GenScan AI applies artificial intelligence to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to shorten scan times while maintaining or improving image quality.
City Business News reports that the stakeholder presentation provided an opportunity for health professionals, researchers and other stakeholders to examine the technology’s potential application in Nigeria’s healthcare sector and the steps required to translate the research into clinical use.
According to the NPSI Advisory Board, which declared GenScan AI the winning entry, its C-MORE algorithm uses a one-step framework to reconstruct MRI images, with the potential to reduce scan acquisition times by up to 90 per cent without requiring new MRI hardware.
The technology could enable healthcare providers to attend to more patients, reduce waiting times and maximise the use of existing MRI equipment, particularly in facilities where access to diagnostic imaging remains limited.
In her welcome remarks, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, stressed the importance of accurate diagnosis to effective treatment.
She noted that diagnostic imaging provides medical teams with critical evidence to identify health conditions and make informed decisions on patient care.
“Our interest goes beyond recognising an outstanding idea. We want to see scientific research make a practical difference in people’s lives. GenScan AI offers the prospect of faster medical imaging and better use of existing equipment. This presentation creates an opportunity to discuss what is needed to move that promise towards practical application,” she said.
Also speaking on the winning entry, Professor Barth Nnaji, a member of the Prize’s Advisory Board, said GenScan AI stood out because of the strength of its science and its potential to address a practical healthcare challenge.
Nnaji identified engagement with clinicians and other relevant stakeholders as an important next step in determining how the technology can be deployed safely and effectively.
He said the presentation provided an opportunity to assess the technology’s potential and identify the requirements for further development and eventual application.
Akoda emerged winner from a record 237 entries submitted for the 2026 edition of the Prize, which focused on the theme, “Innovations in Artificial Intelligence, ICT and Digital Technologies for Development.”
Her selection followed an independent evaluation by the Panel of Judges, chaired by Dr Omobola Johnson, and subsequent endorsement by the Advisory Board.
Akoda is the first woman and the first millennial to win the Prize as an individual recipient.
She is expected to receive the US$100,000 prize at the Grand Award Night scheduled for October 9, 2026.
Sponsored by NLNG, The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation recognises excellence in scientific research and promotes innovations capable of addressing practical challenges.
The public presentation of GenScan AI reinforces the Prize’s objective of connecting outstanding research with institutions and professionals capable of helping to translate scientific breakthroughs into tangible benefits for society.
