The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has called for stronger international scientific cooperation to tackle global challenges, promote peace and accelerate sustainable development.
IsaĆas da Rosa, UNESCO Country Representative to Nigeria, made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during the 2026 World Science Day for Peace and Development celebration.
The event was supported by UNESCO and the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.
Da Rosa highlighted the importance of cross-border scientific partnerships in addressing pressing challenges, including climate change, flooding, biodiversity loss and food insecurity.
He pointed to the international scientific collaboration that facilitated the development of COVID-19 vaccines as evidence of how sharing research and expertise can speed up responses to global emergencies.
However, he cautioned that scientific cooperation could also widen existing inequalities between developed and developing nations if it was not anchored on equity, inclusion, transparency, human rights and open science.
He reaffirmed UNESCO’s readiness to assist Nigeria in formulating science diplomacy strategies, encouraging evidence-based policymaking, improving research partnerships and promoting open science.
Also speaking at the event, Mukhtar Muhammad, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, said the gap between developed and developing countries was evident in their differing capacities to deploy science, technology and research for national development.
Muhammad said the ministry was collaborating with its agencies and state governments to strengthen innovation, expand skills acquisition and promote the commercialisation of research findings.
He added that efforts were also underway to develop partnerships that would broaden science and technology advancement across Nigeria, including initiatives delivered through skills acquisition centres.
The permanent secretary stressed the importance of expanding international cooperation, explaining that scientific diplomacy could encourage knowledge exchange, strengthen mutual understanding and foster peaceful relationships between nations.
He further identified science and technology as essential to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda, job creation efforts and the improvement of citizens’ living standards.
SOURCE: Peoples Gazette
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