NIGERIA: Mary-Brenda Akoda has emerged as the first woman to win The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.
Akoda was announced as the winner at a press conference on Tuesday by Professor Bart Nnaji, chairman of the advisory board for the prize, reports QED.ng.
She won the 2026 edition with GenScan AI, an artificial intelligence powered MRI reconstruction technology designed to significantly reduce medical imaging time.
Akoda emerged from a record 237 entries received for the 2026 competition, the highest number of submissions since the prize was established in 2004.
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.
Nnaji said GenScan AI emerged as the unanimous winner after consistently recording the highest scores across the judges.
He said the technology could enable hospitals and diagnostic centres to examine more patients with existing MRI infrastructure, potentially reducing waiting times and allowing earlier diagnosis.
The 2026 prize is worth $100,000.
The 2026 competition was also significant because it retained the theme, “Innovations in Artificial Intelligence, ICT or Digital Technologies for Development”, which had been used for the 2025 edition.
The 2025 competition ended without a winner after the judges determined that none of the entries met the required standard. The advisory board announced the decision in September 2025 after reviewing 112 entries and said the theme would be retained for the 2026 edition to attract more entries, particularly in the area of artificial intelligence.
The decision produced a much larger response in 2026, with 237 entries submitted, more than twice the number received in 2025.Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence
“Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are reshaping every aspect of human life, from healthcare and education to agriculture, finance, energy and entertainment,” Nnaji said.
He said the high number of submissions demonstrated the capacity of Nigerian innovators to develop technology driven solutions to real world problems.
Others at the press conference included Sophia Horsfall, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Dr Nike Akande and Yusuf Abubakar.
Nnaji congratulated Akoda on winning the 2026 prize and thanked the stakeholders supporting the initiative.
The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation is sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited as part of its support for scientific research and innovation aimed at addressing societal challenges. The prize was established in 2004.
