Damilola Bello
A breakthrough in digital reproductive healthcare developed by a Nigerian academic has garnered international acclaim, offering new hope for the early detection and continuous management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and broader endocrine conditions.
Dr. Jide Ebenezer Taiwo Akinsola, a Senior Lecturer at Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan, clinched the Best Research Innovation Award at the NextGen Innovation Challenge Grand Finale in London, United Kingdom, for his pioneering platform, Artificial Intelligence for Monitoring Hormonal Endocrine and Reproductive Health (AIMHER).
Closing the Diagnostic Gap in Women’s Health
PCOS remains one of the most pervasive yet chronically under-diagnosed hormonal disorders affecting women of reproductive age globally. In Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa, delayed diagnoses, limited access to specialized endocrinological care, and fragmented symptom tracking often leave millions of women managing debilitating symptoms without structured clinical guidance.
AIMHER Health directly confronts this gap by leveraging artificial intelligence to analyze hormonal patterns, track reproductive health metrics, and flag early indicators of PCOS. By transforming complex endocrine data into actionable insights, the digital platform empowers both patients and healthcare providers to detect irregularities earlier and personalize ongoing care.
From 3,000 Entries to Global Recognition in London
Dr. Akinsola—fondly known as Dr. JET—emerged from a competitive pool of over 3,000 Nigerian innovators screened during the National Showcase on August 6, 2026. Organized by the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, in partnership with UKALD, London, the initiative selected 70 top finalists to represent Nigeria at the international finale held at the Exhibition Centre, London (ExCeL) from October 7 to 11, 2026.
Presenting before an international panel of judges, investors, and healthcare policymakers on October 9, Dr. Akinsola demonstrated how AIMHER’s predictive algorithms can revolutionize preventative women’s health across emerging and developed markets alike.
“My presentation highlighted the platform’s use of artificial intelligence to support early detection and ongoing monitoring of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a condition that affects a significant share of women of reproductive age and is frequently under-diagnosed,” Dr. Akinsola explained. “Judges assessed the innovation’s technical depth, originality, and potential impact on Nigeria’s, Africa’s, as well as the global healthcare ecosystem.”
Scaling Impact Across Borders
Beyond clinching the Best Research Innovation of the Year trophy—presented by Dr. Olusola Odusanya, Director-General/CEO of the National Centre for Technology Management—Dr. Akinsola was selected among an elite cohort of 18 innovators invited for one-on-one investor pitches aimed at scaling their solutions into four countries.
He also received a separate Certificate of Award of Excellence signed by NBTI Director-General/CEO, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, recognizing his contribution to advancing Nigeria’s technology ecosystem. Having already secured copyright and trademark protections for AIMHER Health, Dr. Akinsola noted that the London milestone will accelerate the platform’s clinical integration and policy visibility.
“The award reflects both the platform’s technical merit and its relevance to an underserved area of women’s health in Nigeria, across Africa, and the entire globe,” he said. “This recognition is expected to support continued development of the platform, visibility with policymakers I met in London, and AIMHER Health’s broader mission of improving women’s health outcomes through AI-powered digital tools.”
As Nigeria and the UK deepen bilateral ties in technology incubation, Dr. Akinsola’s triumph signals a pivotal shift: homegrown Nigerian artificial intelligence is no longer just keeping pace with global health tech—it is leading the charge in reimagining reproductive care for women worldwide.
Jide Ebenezer Taiwo AKINSOLA
Akinsola is a lecturer in the Department of Computer Sciences at the Abiola Ajimobi Technical University (formerly First Technical University), Ibadan, Nigeria. He was the Acting Head of the Department of Computer Sciences from 2024 to 2026. His expertise spans both academia and industry.
He holds a B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. in Computer Science, with specialisations in Artificial Intelligence and Data Security. His contributions span various fields, including research in AI-driven health assessment models, data security, blockchain integration, digital forensics, cloud security, cryptography, and intelligent user interfaces. His current research focuses on “Innovative Data and Modelling Approaches to Measure Women’s Health,” leveraging AI and blockchain technologies to improve the accuracy, security, and accessibility of women’s health data. This work applies machine learning to identify health patterns and risk factors, ensuring data integrity and informed healthcare decisions.
He is the Founder of AIMHER Health, an Artificial Intelligence-driven digital system for health risk stratification, assessment, measurement, continuous care, and mortality rate reduction. A member of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), and a fellow of the Institute of Business Administration and Knowledge Management; his professional standing is reinforced by achievements such as being a Blockchain Developer Mastery Award winner; An alumnus of Maastricht School of Management (MSM), Maastricht, The Netherlands, and a Fellow of the Netherlands Universities Foundation for International Cooperation (NUFIC).
He is a recipient of several scholarships and awards, including the Best Graduating PhD Student, Special Recognition Award by Niger Delta Awards for Outstanding IT Professional of the Year, among others. He has a strong international research background that supports ongoing advancements in technology and data science. He can be contacted at: akinsolajet@gmail.com.