Thomas Adewumi University has recorded a landmark achievement as its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Francisca Onaolapo Oladipo, has been elected to serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the Committee on Data of the International Science Council (CODATA) for the 2025–2027 term.
The election, which took place during the 34th CODATA General Assembly held from 17–18 October 2025 in Brisbane, Australia, marks a historic milestone as Professor Oladipo becomes the first Nigerian to be elected to the Executive Committee of CODATA in the organisation’s 59-year history.
CODATA, established in 1966 under the International Science Council, is a leading global authority in data science governance. Its Executive Committee comprises fewer than 15 members worldwide, selected from thousands of eminent data scientists across all continents. The committee is responsible for shaping international data policy, advancing Open Science initiatives, and promoting the FAIR data principles—Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable—which underpin scientific research globally.
As a member of this elite body, our Vice-Chancellor will serve alongside distinguished global leaders, including Mercè Crosas (Spain), President of CODATA and Head of Computational Social Sciences at the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre; Vice-Presidents from South Africa and New Zealand; and Executive Committee members from Japan, Taiwan, Finland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Botswana, and other nations.
The CODATA Executive Committee plays a critical role in guiding global data policies that influence billions of dollars in research funding, support millions of scientists worldwide, and drive solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing challenges, ranging from pandemic response and climate action to artificial intelligence ethics and sustainable development.
Professor Oladipo’s election follows her internationally acclaimed leadership of the Virus Outbreak Data Africa Network (VODAN-Africa), where she spearheaded the world’s first successful implementation of machine-actionable FAIR Data Points during the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative was deployed across 88 health facilities in eight African countries, demonstrating Africa’s capacity to lead global scientific innovation. Her work has received international recognition, including features in UNESCO’s 2021 Engineering Report and the award for “Most Inspiring Initiative” at Leiden Science Week 2022.
Reacting to the development, Professor Oladipo described her election as a significant turning point in global data governance. “This election represents not just a personal achievement, but a paradigm shift in global data governance. For too long, Africa has been a source of data rather than a shaper of data policy. My presence on this Committee ensures that African perspectives, challenges and innovations directly inform the standards and practices that govern global science,” she said.
The Vice-Chancellor brings to CODATA an impressive portfolio of international recognition, research excellence and global impact. Her achievement further reinforces Thomas Adewumi University’s growing reputation as a centre of academic excellence and global relevance.
The entire TAU community celebrates this historic accomplishment and congratulates Professor Francisca Onaolapo Oladipo on this outstanding global recognition, which not only elevates the University but also places Nigeria and Africa more prominently on the global science and data governance map.
