BUILDING A CULTURE OF OPEN SCIENCE IN NIGERIA: THE LEADERSHIP JOURNEY OF DR. FATIMAH JIBRIL ABDULDAYAN

By: Benedict Aguele

In a world increasingly driven by data, access to knowledge is no longer a privilege—it is a right. At the heart of this transformative movement in Nigeria is Dr. Fatimah Jibril Abduldayan, a visionary librarian, academic leader, and advocate for open science. Through her commitment to equitable access to information, Dr. Abduldayan is helping to reimagine the landscape of research and knowledge dissemination in Nigeria, positioning the country at the forefront of global trends in scholarly communication.

Dr. Abduldayan currently serves as the Team Lead for LIBSENSE Nigeria, an initiative that promotes open science practices, research data management (RDM), and institutional capacity-building across academic and research institutions. LIBSENSE, a pan-African collaborative project spearheaded by WACREN (West and Central African Research and Education Network), is dedicated to developing the digital infrastructure and policy frameworks needed to advance open science in Africa. In her leadership role, Dr. Abduldayan has become an indispensable figure in coordinating these national efforts and translating global aspirations into local action.

The philosophy of open science is centered on removing barriers to knowledge by making scientific research and its dissemination accessible to all levels of society. This includes open access to journals and books, transparency in research data, and collaborative tools that allow researchers to work more efficiently and inclusively. For Dr. Abduldayan, open science is not just a trend—it is a necessity for national development, academic integrity, and the democratisation of knowledge.

Under her leadership, LIBSENSE Nigeria has taken bold steps to build a community of researchers and librarians equipped with the tools and training to support open access publishing and data management. Dr. Abduldayan’s efforts have been particularly focused on Early Career Researchers (ECRs), who often face challenges accessing publishing platforms, funding, and global visibility. By mentoring ECRs and organizing training programs, she is building a generation of Nigerian scholars who understand the value of transparency, collaboration, and openness in research.

Dr. Abduldayan’s impact spans beyond policy advocacy and capacity development. She has been instrumental in helping Nigerian institutions adopt and implement research data management strategies. Through coordinated efforts, her team, covering over 10 institutions across geographic zones in Nigeria, has supported the development of metadata standards, institutional repositories, and open access policies that are vital for sustainable research ecosystems.

She has facilitated several workshops involving university leaders, librarians, editors, and postgraduate students. These engagements have served to bridge knowledge gaps, build consensus, and foster a culture of shared responsibility in the academic space. Her work ensures that institutions are not only publishing more openly but are also managing research data in ethical and efficient ways.

Her experience as Director of the Centre for Open Distance and e-Learning (CODEL) and Head of the Department of Library and Information Science at the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMinna), prepared her well for this national role. During her tenure, she prioritized digital transformation, information literacy, and inclusive learning practices—all of which align with the principles of open science.

One of the most defining aspects of Dr. Abduldayan’s work is her strategic collaboration with both local and international partners. Through her role as the Trade Manager of the FUTMinna TETFund Academic Publishing Centre, she has worked with global institutions such as the Open Book Collective (United Kingdom) and Datasphir, facilitating funding and resources for publishing Nigerian research as open academic books.

This collaboration is critical in addressing the inaccessibility and affordability of academic texts in Nigeria. Open book publishing ensures that students, educators, and policymakers have access to high-quality research without financial or institutional limitations. By advocating for this model, Dr. Abduldayan is actively dismantling barriers to knowledge and amplifying African voices in global scholarly discourse.

Furthermore, her affiliation with WACREN provides her a platform to engage with continental stakeholders on best practices for open infrastructure, knowledge sharing, and sustainability models. Her voice is consistently present in regional dialogues aimed at harmonizing standards and creating inclusive policies that recognizes the unique challenges of African researchers.

Beyond her contributions to open science, Dr. Abduldayan is also passionate about gender and development, particularly as it intersects with access to education and technology. She recently completed a certificate course in Gender and Development Studies at the Policy Innovation Centre in Abuja, deepening her understanding of gender intersectionality and its implications for women and girls in Africa.

Her perspective as a gender advocate enriches her approach to leadership and policy implementation. She champions inclusive practices in library services and research support systems, ensuring that women scholars and librarians are not left behind in the shift toward digital and open science platforms. For Dr. Abduldayan, the future of knowledge production in Nigeria must be diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

Dr. Abduldayan was recently appointed as the University Librarian at the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State. In this role, she continues to apply her principles of innovation, access, and collaboration to reposition the NMU library as an engine of academic and social transformation. Her vision for libraries goes far beyond books—they are to be knowledge hubs, technology centers, and policy influencers.

She believes that Nigerian libraries must be reimagined to meet the demands of 21st-century libraries, which include managing digital data, supporting virtual learning environments, and driving institutional research output. Through policy advocacy and strategic leadership, Dr. Abduldayan is setting the pace for what modern libraries should look like in Africa.

Dr. Fatimah Jibril Abduldayan embodies the blend of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and human-centered leadership needed to navigate the complexities of Nigeria’s academic and research environment. Her contributions to open science, institutional reform, and gender advocacy are not only shaping national policies but also inspiring a new generation of scholars and librarians.

As she continues to lead initiatives that align with the global open science movement, Dr. Abduldayan remains focused on one core principle: knowledge should be open, inclusive, and impactful. Her work is a testament to the fact that with the right leadership and vision, Nigerian institutions can rise to meet global standards while remaining responsive to local realities.

In a rapidly evolving world, leaders like Dr. Abduldayan remind us that progress is not just about technology or data—it is about people, purpose, and the power of shared knowledge.

Benedict Aguele is a Member of the Governing Council of Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State.