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| LR: Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, NLNG; Moyosore Olayinka Asubiojo, General Manager, Vibranium Valley; Demola Idowu, Co-founder, Vibranium Valley and Venture Garden Group; Mary-Brenda Akoda, winner of the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation (NPSI); Dr Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, NLNG; and Chief Dr Nike Akande, Member of the NPSI Advisory Board, at the public presentation of Akoda’s award-winning GenScan MRI, an AI-powered innovation, at Vibranium Valley, Ikeja, Lagos. |
Nigeria’s diagnostic bottlenecks could face a major breakthrough as 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation winner, Mary-Brenda Akoda, unveils an AI-powered medical imaging solution designed to cut MRI scan times by up to 90 per cent without new hardware.
Akoda presented the innovation on Wednesday at Vibranium Valley, Ikeja, Lagos, before medical practitioners, researchers, academics, students and technology stakeholders.
GenScanAI applies AI and advanced computing to MRI image reconstruction. By shortening scan times, it could enable hospitals to examine more patients with existing MRI infrastructure, improve equipment utilisation, reduce waiting times and support faster diagnosis.
Speaking at the event, Sophia Horsfall, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, said the innovation addressed a critical need as population growth increases demand for diagnostic services.
“Medical imaging plays a critical role in diagnosis, but MRI delays limit how many people facilities can serve. Innovations such as GenScanAI show how AI can improve the efficiency of existing infrastructure,” she said.
Akoda emerged winner from over 230 entries. The 2026 Prize focused on AI, ICT and Digital Technologies for Development.
