Nigeria LNG Ltd. (NLNG) has presented GenScan Artificial Intelligence (AI), the winning work of The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation (NPSI) 2026, to Nigerians.
Mrs Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, NLNG Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Port Harcourt.
Palmer-Ikuku said the technology could accelerate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and improve access to diagnostic service.
She said GenScan AI, developed by Mary-Brenda Akoda, uses artificial intelligence to shorten MRI scan times while maintaining or improving image quality.
According to her, GenScan AI’s C-MORE algorithm uses a one-step framework to reconstruct MRI images.
“The algorithm has the potential to reduce MRI scan acquisition times by up to 90 per cent without requiring new MRI hardware,” she said.
Palmer-Ikuku said shorter scan times could enable healthcare providers to attend to more patients and reduce waiting periods.
She added that the technology could also improve the utilisation of existing MRI equipment, supporting more efficient diagnostic services.
The NLNG spokesperson said NPSI, sponsored by NLNG, recognises excellence in scientific research and promotes innovations that address practical challenges.
Palmer-Ikuku quoted Mrs Sophia Horsfall, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, as saying that accurate diagnosis was essential to effective treatment.
Horsfall said diagnostic imaging provided evidence that enabled medical teams to identify conditions and make informed decisions about patient care.
“Our interest goes beyond recognising an outstanding idea. We want to see scientific research make a practical difference in people’s lives,” she said.
She said GenScan AI offered prospects for faster medical imaging and better utilisation of existing equipment.
Horsfall said the presentation provided an opportunity to discuss steps required to translate the technology’s potential into practical application.
Prof. Barth Nnaji, member of the NPSI Advisory Board, said the winning work stood out for its scientific strength and potential to address a practical healthcare need.
Nnaji identified engagement with clinicians and other stakeholders as the next step in assessing how the technology could be used safely and effectively.
Akoda emerged as the 2026 NPSI winner from a record 237 entries following an independent evaluation by a panel of judges chaired by Dr Omobola Johnson and endorsement by the Advisory Board.
She is the first woman to win the prize as an individual recipient and will receive the 100,000-dollar (N135.6 million) prize at the Grand Award Night on Oct. 9.
