Umuaka-born Professor Chidi Oguamanam gets prestigious UNESCO appointment.

The appointment of a distinguished Nigerian scholar and Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa, Canada, Professor Chidi Oguamanam, to the prestigious United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) has continued to generate excitement across Nigeria, Africa and particularly his home community of Umuaka in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State.The news, which was announced by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) last week, was widely reported by mainstream media organizations across Nigeria and Africa and has been described as a significant recognition of the academic and professional accomplishments of the highly respected Nigerian scholar. Professor Oguamanam, who is a Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa, will serve on COMEST for a four-year term from 2026 to 2029.

COMEST is an independent UNESCO advisory body established in 1998 to bring together leading experts from different parts of the world to examine the ethical implications of scientific and technological developments and provide advice to UNESCO, governments and policymakers. Its areas of particular concern include artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, biotechnology, climate change and environmental issues, quantum computing and space exploration. The Commission has also contributed to major international ethical frameworks, including UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted in 2021.

Speaking with Umuaka Times last week, Professor Oguamanam disclosed that he did not expect the appointment, explaining that the appointment was based on what he described as “personal recognizance.” According to him, the commission consists essentially of 18 global multidisciplinary experts considered most suited to its mandate. He explained that the members are appointed by the UNESCO Director-General in their personal capacities for four-year terms, with factors such as cultural diversity, schools of thought, geographical representation and gender balance taken into consideration. Oguamanam added that proposals from member states involving leading scholars in fields including science, professional engineering, law, philosophy, culture, religion and politics also form part of the selection process.

The appointment is particularly significant given Professor Oguamanam’s longstanding scholarship at the intersection of law, science, technology, indigenous knowledge, intellectual property, biotechnology, biodiversity and global knowledge governance. Highly dependable sources told Umuaka Times last week that Professor Oguamanam’s new responsibility will place him among international experts participating in discussions capable of influencing global thinking and policy on the ethical development and application of science and technology.

Meanwhile, back home in Umuaka (UmueleAmazano), Njaba LGA, Imo State, news of the appointment was initially received with considerable surprise and excitement by a good number of Akalites. Several of them who heard the report contacted Umuaka Times seeking confirmation, while others immediately took to social media to celebrate the achievement of their illustrious son.

Congratulatory messages have continued to pour in from members of the community, who described the appointment as a source of immense pride for Umuaka, Imo State and Nigeria.

For many Akalites, Professor Oguamanam’s latest international recognition represents the culmination of a lifetime devoted to academics, law and intellectual research. His appointment to a UNESCO global commission is being viewed not merely as a personal achievement but as another moment in which the name of Umuaka has been placed on an international platform.