By Frank Momoh
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has called for an increased political commitment to open Science, through the development of appropriate policies, strategies and adequate funding.
Onu made the call when he participated at the online high level side event on the margins of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in the United States from his office during the week in Abuja.
Recall that at the 2021 Science Expo, organized by the ministry, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, expressed optimism on government’s readiness to commit 0.5 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to research and innovation.
However, stakeholders opined that the banks and multi-national must show commitment to funding research and innovation to jumpstart innovative commercial products into the market.
According to the Minister, open science, will promote greater access to scientific inputs and outputs, as well as promote global and domestic participation in research processes.
He further said that open science will create more accurate replication and validation of scientific research results by the scientific community, adding that errors and malpractices in research process will easily be identified and increase scientific integrity.
Onu advocated for a roadmap that will enhance global collaboration and cooperation among scientists, researchers and innovators.
According to the Minister, the increased collaboration will proffer solutions to challenges confronting humanity.
The Minister explained that open science will increase awareness among the citizens about specific scientific innovations. The increase in awareness will promote the active participation of Nigerians in the collection of relevant data and more scientific experiments for the greater good of the society.
According to him, trust, support for public policies and investment will be the order of the day once open Science is implemented in countries such as Nigeria.