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GenScan AI creator Mary Brenda Akoda won NLNG’s 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, with tech that could cut MRI scan time by up to 90%.
GenScan AI won the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation after judges selected it from 237 submissions. GenScan AI is an AI-powered medical imaging tool that speeds up MRI scans.
An MRI scan is a hospital test that uses magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of the body. One bottleneck is image reconstruction, which is the step where raw signals are turned into readable images. GenScan AI focuses on that step.
According to organisers, the judging panel was chaired by former Nigerian Minister of Communications Omobola Johnson. NLNG executives said the prize did not produce a winner in 2025, which they framed as a sign that the standards are strict.
GenScan AI is also described as GenMRI or C-MORE. The C-MORE algorithm uses a “one-step consistency model” approach, which is a way to rebuild images faster while keeping them accurate. The organisers said the tool could reduce MRI acquisition time without requiring new MRI hardware.
MRI capacity is limited across many African health systems. Machines are expensive, trained staff are scarce, and patients often face long waiting times. If software can shorten scan time, hospitals can serve more patients with the same equipment.
For founders and investors in African health tech, this is another example of AI being applied beyond chatbots and customer support. Here, AI is used for a clear operational win, higher scanner utilisation, faster throughput, and potentially lower cost per patient.
The award also matters for representation. Akoda is reported as the first millennial and first woman to win the prize as an individual recipient. That visibility can help pull more researchers and builders into applied AI for healthcare.
Primary Source: Nairametrics
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