The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has called for an increased political commitment to the development of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) by providing an enabling environment through provision of adequate funding, appropriate policies and strategies.
He made this call during a high-level online event on the margins of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Onu stressed that 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 for increased scientific integrity.
Onu insisted that a roadmap that will enhance global collaboration and cooperation among scientists, researchers and innovators will bring about increased collaboration which will proffer solutions to the challenges confronting humanity.
According to him, 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.
He emphasised trust, support for public policies and investment as the basis for the progress of open science, once it is implemented in countries like Nigeria.
