DE-COMMODIFYING ACADEMIC PUBLISHING: CAN DIAMOND OPEN ACCESS BELL THE CAT? MUSINGS FROM NIGERIA

Abstract

Academic publishing in Nigeria, and more broadly across Africa, is gradually being been influenced by commercially driven systems based in the Global North. The commodification of knowledge, evident through paywalls and high article processing charges (APCs) has created significant barriers to equitable access, visibility, and meaningful participation for researchers and institutions in developing countries. This short communication paper reflects on how the same payment of APCs is a financial sustainability model for journals in Nigeria and the attendant consequences of this model. This paper examines the potential of Diamond Open Access (DOA) model, where neither authors nor readers pay fees as a transformative pathway to de-commodify scholarly publishing. It also offers insights for policymakers, funders, librarians, and scholarly communities working towards a more inclusive and community-governed scholarly communication ecosystem.