Meet Prof Chidi Oguamanam, the Nigerian professor UNESCO chose to guide global AI and science ethics

• Prof Chidi Oguamanam has been appointed to UNESCO's World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST).

• His four-year tenure will run from 2026 to 2029.

• The commission advises on ethical issues surrounding AI, climate change, biotechnology, quantum computing, space exploration and other emerging technologies.

• Oguamanam will join global experts helping UNESCO shape future ethical standards and recommendations on science and technology.

With all the "Japa" conversations and bad news dominating headlines, here's one that Nigerians can actually smile about.

Nigerian scholar Prof Chidi Oguamanam has been appointed to serve on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST), one of the organisation's top advisory bodies on global science and technology ethics.

His appointment will run for four years, from 2026 to 2029, and recognises his long-standing contributions to the ethics of science, technology and related fields.

UNESCO announced the appointment in an official invitation sent on Saturday.

The organisation wrote:

“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.”

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Established in 1998, COMEST is an independent advisory body made up of experts from different countries and academic backgrounds.

Its job is to examine the ethical questions that come with rapid advances in science and technology. That includes major issues around artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, environmental protection, biotechnology, quantum computing and even space exploration.

UNESCO said the commission is intentionally made up of experts from different regions to ensure global perspectives are represented when discussing emerging ethical challenges.

According to the organisation, the commission provides advice and recommendations to UNESCO, governments, policymakers, researchers and civil society through detailed reports.

Some of its past work has influenced important international frameworks, including the Declaration of Ethical Principles in Relation to Climate Change, adopted in 2017, and the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted in 2021.

More recently, the commission has also released reports looking at the ethical implications of quantum computing and space exploration and utilisation.

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UNESCO said it is confident Oguamanam's expertise will strengthen the commission as it begins work on new ethical questions arising from emerging technologies.

The organisation added that members are expected to contribute to what it described as "horizon scanning", identifying future scientific and technological developments that could raise important ethical concerns before they become major global issues.

UNESCO said members would also help shape the commission's next round of reports and recommendations.

For Nigeria, Oguamanam's appointment means the country will have a stronger voice in international conversations that influence how emerging technologies, including AI, are governed and used responsibly around the world.

As technology continues to evolve at breakneck speed, decisions made by bodies like COMEST are becoming increasingly important in shaping global policies that balance innovation with ethics and human rights.