By Newsshelve.
The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation has recorded its highest-ever number of submissions, with 237 entries received for the 2026 competition, which produced GenScan AI by Mary Brenda Akorra as the winning innovation.
The Chairman of the Advisory Board, Professor Barth Nnaji, announced the winner at the prize’s press conference in Lagos, saying the outcome reflected the commitment of the organisers to maintaining the integrity, credibility and global standard of the competition.
Nnaji said the theme, “Innovations in Artificial Intelligence or ICT or Digital Technologies for Development,” was deliberately retained from the 2025 edition, which ended without a winner because no entry met the required standard.
According to him, the decision challenged the innovation community and attracted the highest number of submissions in the history of the prize.
He noted that the strong participation underscored the capacity and determination of Nigerian innovators to develop solutions to real-world challenges through emerging technologies.
Nnaji said artificial intelligence and digital technologies were reshaping sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, energy and entertainment, making the theme particularly relevant to Nigeria’s development needs.
Three Finalists
Following a rigorous, independent and transparent evaluation process, the judging panel identified three finalists:
* GenScan AI — Mary Brenda Akorra.
* EwaDX Smart Bra Diagnostic Device — Kemiola Bolarinwa.
* Accuracy and Reliability of MedBrain in Assisting Triage and Diagnosis of Common Acute Pediatric Conditions in Ethiopia — Paul Rickard and Paul Diwonke.
Nnaji said all three entries demonstrated ingenuity, scientific merit and the potential to address critical societal challenges.
However, after assessments based on innovation, impact, technical depth, scalability and practical application, GenScan AI consistently achieved the highest scores across all judges.
Innovation Could Improve MRI Access
Explaining the significance of the winning work, Nnaji said GenScan AI had the potential to improve the efficiency of existing MRI scanners, enabling them to process more patients without necessarily requiring additional machines.
He said the innovation could shorten examination time, reduce waiting lists, support earlier diagnosis and allow emerging centres to serve more patients with existing equipment.
Nnaji described the outcome as significant because it aligned with the objective of the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), to promote research and innovation capable of improving lives.
He commended all participants for their contributions to the advancement of knowledge and the development of solutions with the potential to transform lives.
The chairman also praised NLNG for its continued commitment to the prize and its vision of being a globally competitive energy company improving lives sustainably.
NLNG Seeks Partners to Scale Innovation
Nnaji said NLNG’s role was to serve as a stimulant within the innovation ecosystem by bringing promising works to the attention of strategic partners capable of taking them to the next level.
He said such partners could include government agencies, venture capitalists, equity investors and academic institutions.
“We believe that by bringing this prize to prominence through the esteemed platform of the Nigeria Prize, it exposes the prize and the winner to potential strategic partners, those who probably even have deeper pockets than ours,” he said.
He added that the ultimate objective was for as many people as possible, both within Nigeria and beyond, to benefit from the winning innovation.
Nnaji further disclosed that GenScan AI was already being promoted by its developer’s company and had attracted support from investors and grants in Europe.
He said the development showed that the innovation was moving beyond the university laboratory into the field.
“Either way, it’s making progress. This one in particular is very good,” he said.
He also recalled NLNG’s past support for healthcare-related research at Imperial College London, describing it as evidence of the company’s longstanding commitment to scientific advancement.
Horsfall Urges Contestants to Remain Undeterred
Earlier, the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, NLNG, Dr Sophia Horsfall, said the prize was about more than winning an award, stressing the importance of asking important questions, finding better answers and using science and innovation to address challenges that matter to Nigerians.
She said the prize had, for more than two decades, brought national attention to some of the finest minds in Nigeria’s laboratories, universities and research institutions.
Horsfall disclosed that following the outcome of the previous prize cycle, NLNG renewed its efforts to deepen participation by taking the initiative beyond the judging room and directly to the research and innovation community.
She said the company also engaged the media and academic institutions with a clear message that the standards remained high and that the doors remained open.
Horsfall urged contestants whose entries did not emerge as winners to remain undeterred, noting that their submissions could become the foundation for future breakthroughs.
“Your submission this year can very well be a starting point for what could promise to be a significant breakthrough next year, or even beyond,” she said.
She also expressed gratitude to journalists for their continued interest in the prize and their contribution to the advancement of scientific research and proven breakthroughs.
Media Urged to Promote GenScan AI
The Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, NLNG, Mrs Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikokwu, urged journalists to help promote GenScan AI and attract potential investors and strategic partners.
She said the media had a crucial role to play in ensuring that the innovation reached a wider audience beyond the event.
“If we leave this room and we don’t take it out, it won’t reach them. So it’s a call on you. We’re in a partnership with you,” Palmer-Ikokwu said.
She urged journalists to use their platforms to write more about GenScan AI and its potential impact, particularly in attracting the attention of government, venture capitalists and other potential partners.
The event brought together members of the advisory board, distinguished guests, stakeholders and the media to celebrate scientific excellence and the potential of innovation to address Nigeria’s development challenges.
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