UNESCO names Nigerian scholar to advisory body on science, tech ethics

Nigerian scholar Prof. Chidi Oguamanam has been invited to serve on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology.

His appointment, spanning four years from 2026 to 2029, acknowledges his significant contributions to the ethics of science and technology and related fields. UNESCO conveyed the invitation in a letter on Saturday, highlighting the commission's role as an independent advisory body.

The World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology brings together experts from diverse regions and disciplines. Its mandate is to examine the ethical issues emerging from scientific and technological developments, including climate change and environmental concerns. UNESCO emphasizes the importance of regional balance in its membership to foster multidisciplinary debate.

This commission provides guidance and recommendations through reports to UNESCO, its member states, the scientific community, policymakers, and civil society. Its past work has influenced global normative instruments, such as the Declaration of Ethical Principles in Relation to Climate Change (2017) and the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021).

UNESCO expects Oguamanam to contribute to identifying emerging ethical challenges and shaping the commission's future work program, which will focus on new areas including quantum computing and space exploration. His appointment enhances Nigeria's representation in international discussions on the ethical implications of science and technology.

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Recognising your significant contributions to the ethics of science and technology and related disciplines, it is my honour to invite you to become a member of UNESCO’s World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology for a period of four years, from 2026 to 2029.