In a major milestone for home-grown technological advancement, Mary-Brenda Akoda has emerged as the winner of the prestigious 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation, awarded by Nigeria LNG.
Her breakthrough project, GenScan AI, stood out as the winning entry among 237 submissions from across the nation, demonstrating what Nigerian talent can accomplish when education, research, and opportunity align.
This moment is particularly significant following the previous year’s competition, which produced no clear winner.
That outcome was taken as a challenge to confront directly, leading to a concerted charge for the Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Committee to work closely with Nigeria LNG.
Together, they strengthened the critical pathway connecting education and research institutions directly to real-world innovation and practical impact.
Mary-Brenda’s success represents the future being built under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, advancing an education system that goes beyond teaching science to equip Nigerians with the tools to create, solve problems, and drive national development.
Congratulations go out to Mary-Brenda Akoda, all 237 participants, and Nigeria LNG for demonstrating what is possible when Nigerian talent receives the opportunity and support required to thrive.
