The emergence of Mary-Brenda Akoda’s GenScan AI as the winner of the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation (NPSI) was the product of a deliberate process by the Advisory Board to uphold the highest standards of scientific excellence, Professor Barth Nnaji has said.
Nnaji, Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, said the Board’s role was not merely to announce a winner but to ensure that every edition of the prestigious prize provided a credible platform for identifying innovations capable of making meaningful contributions to society.
Speaking at the announcement of the 2026 winner, Nnaji said the Advisory Board made a conscious decision to retain the theme, “Innovations in Artificial Intelligence or ICT or Digital Technologies for Development,” after the 2025 competition ended without a winner.
He explained that the decision reflected the Board’s determination not to compromise the standards of the prize simply for the sake of producing a winner.
“That decision, though difficult, reflected our unwavering commitment to preserving the integrity, credibility, and global standing of the Prize,” Nnaji said.
According to him, the Board viewed the decision as an opportunity to challenge Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem to produce solutions capable of meeting the exceptionally high standards expected of the prize.
The strategy paid off, as the 2026 competition attracted 237 entries—the highest number of submissions in the history of the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation.
Nnaji said the unprecedented response demonstrated that Nigerian researchers and innovators were prepared to confront difficult societal problems using artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
“Every call for entry is an opportunity to innovate and celebrate excellence,” he said, stressing that the Advisory Board was encouraged by the response from the innovation community.
Board’s Oversight Delivers a Credible, Competitive Process
Beyond setting the direction of the competition, the Advisory Board played a critical oversight role in ensuring that the process leading to the selection of the winner remained rigorous, independent and transparent.
Nnaji said the Board relied on an eminent Panel of Judges to subject the submissions to detailed scrutiny, with the finalists assessed on innovation, impact, technical depth, scalability and practical application.
The three finalists: GenScan AI by Mary-Brenda Akoda; EwaDx Smart Bra Diagnostic Device by Kemisola Bolarinwa; and MedBrain by Pol Ricart and Paul Dinwoke, were all judged to have demonstrated significant scientific merit and potential societal impact.
But, according to Nnaji, the Board’s insistence on a robust evaluation process ensured that recognition would go to the innovation that demonstrated the strongest overall performance against the approved criteria.
“Each of these entries demonstrated ingenuity, scientific merit, and a propensity to solve critical societal challenges. They are all worthy of recognition and commendation,” he said.
Following the judges’ detailed assessments, GenScan AI emerged as the unanimous choice.
Nnaji’s emphasis on the unanimity of the decision underscored the credibility of the process overseen by the Advisory Board. Rather than simply rewarding novelty, the evaluation examined whether the innovation could translate scientific and technological advancement into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
The Board also benefited from the expertise of the 2026 judging panel, chaired by Dr. Omobola Johnson, with Professor Aminu Muhammad Bui and Professor Collins Udanor Nnalue serving as members.
Nnaji praised the judges for their “careful deliberations, independence of thought, and steadfast commitment to excellence,” saying their work helped preserve the integrity of the prize and strengthened confidence in the outcome.
GenScan AI Validates Board’s Vision for Impact-Driven Innovation
For Nnaji, the selection of GenScan AI represents precisely the kind of outcome the Advisory Board has sought to achieve through its stewardship of the prize.
The innovation uses AI-powered MRI reconstruction technology to reduce MRI acquisition times while maintaining, and potentially enhancing, image quality.
Nnaji said its practical significance lies in its ability to enable hospitals and diagnostic centres to serve more patients with existing MRI infrastructure.
Rather than requiring healthcare providers to immediately acquire additional scanners, GenScan AI could increase the effective utilisation of compatible existing machines by reducing examination times, potentially cutting waiting periods and facilitating earlier diagnosis.
That real-world impact, Nnaji suggested, was central to the Board’s approach to identifying a worthy winner.
The Chairman also linked the outcome directly to the broader objective of the prize’s sponsor, Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), which seeks to support innovations capable of improving lives sustainably.
“I commend NLNG for its unwavering commitment to this aspiration. As you can see, the result speaks for itself,” Nnaji said.
He described the winning work as an innovation with “direct impact on improving lives,” reinforcing the Advisory Board’s emphasis on ensuring that scientific excellence is matched by practical relevance.
Nnaji also used the occasion to commend all the contestants, noting that participation itself contributes to Nigeria’s knowledge economy and expands the country’s pool of solutions to pressing challenges.
For the Advisory Board, therefore, the 2026 outcome represents more than the selection of an individual winner. It is a validation of a deliberate institutional approach: maintain high standards, challenge innovators, ensure an independent assessment process and ultimately reward science and technology with the strongest potential to transform lives.