The 2026 winning work of The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, GenScan AI, developed by Mary-Brenda Akoda, was presented to stakeholders in Abuja, bringing together leaders from government, healthcare, science and industry to explore its path towards real-world application.
Among those at the presentation were Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education; Professor Barth Nnaji, Chairman, Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation; Professor Yusuf Abubakar, Member of the Advisory Board; Dr Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, NLNG; Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, NLNG; Professor Adesoji Adesugba, First Deputy President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Dr Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Director-General/CEO, National Board for Technology Incubation, who represented the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
GenScan AI uses artificial intelligence to make MRI scans up to 90% faster, without requiring hospitals to purchase new MRI machines.
“Our interest goes beyond recognising an outstanding idea. We want to see scientific research make a practical difference in people’s lives,” said Dr Sophia Horsfall.
For Dr Tunji Alausa, the innovation represents the kind of science Nigeria needs: “science that moves from laboratory into society.”
Professor Barth Nnaji described the work as one with significance beyond Nigeria, saying, “It looks like Dr Mary Akoda has done it for the world, not just for Nigeria.”
The conversations in Abuja now turn to the next important step: moving GenScan AI from an award-winning innovation towards clinical application and wider impact.
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