The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) congratulates Professor Chidi Oguamanam, a distinguished scholar and Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (FAAS), on his appointment to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST).

Prof Oguamanam’s appointment recognizes his expertise at the intersection of science, technology, law, ethics, and sustainable development, and positions him among international experts contributing to global discussions on the responsible advancement and application of scientific knowledge and emerging technologies.

Established by UNESCO, COMEST is an advisory body that brings together leading experts from diverse disciplines to provide ethical and policy guidance on scientific and technological developments. Its work addresses some of the complex ethical questions emerging from advances in science and technology and supports efforts to ensure that innovation contributes to inclusive and sustainable societies.

Prof Oguamanam is an internationally respected scholar whose work has focused on intellectual property, biotechnology, agriculture, traditional knowledge, and indigenous knowledge systems. His research has examined how legal and policy frameworks can better recognise and protect knowledge generated and preserved by communities, particularly in developing countries.

His appointment to COMEST provides an important opportunity to bring African perspectives and expertise to global conversations on the ethics and governance of science and technology. It also reflects the growing recognition of African scholarship in shaping international approaches to emerging scientific, technological, and societal challenges.

As a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences, Prof Oguamanam exemplifies the Academy’s mandate to recognise and celebrate excellence in African science and scholarship. His appointment to a UNESCO global advisory body further demonstrates the calibre and international influence of AAS Fellows and their contributions beyond the continent.

The AAS congratulates Professor Chidi Oguamanam on this distinguished appointment and celebrates his continued leadership in advancing ethical, inclusive, and responsible approaches to science, technology, and innovation.