OPENING ADDRESS BY THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN

Abstract

This address, delivered by Dr. Musa Hussaini on behalf of the University Librarian of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA), during International Open Access Week 2026, examines the theme “The Cost of Knowledge.” It highlights the financial, institutional, technological, and social barriers that constrain equitable access to scholarly information and the dissemination of research findings, particularly in resource-constrained institutions. The address emphasises the strategic role of university libraries in advancing open access through institutional repositories, open educational resources, research data management, digital literacy, and scholarly communication support. It further highlights the launch of the FUTMINNA/LIBSENSE Open Science Community of Practice as a platform for collaboration, capacity development, and the adoption of open science principles. In addition, it discusses the importance of Diamond Open Access as a publishing model that eliminates subscription charges for readers and article processing charges for authors, while recognising the need for sustainable institutional support, digital infrastructure, and effective editorial management. The address calls for collective action by university management, researchers, librarians, publishers, funding agencies, students, and policymakers to promote responsible open access, strengthen research visibility, uphold research integrity, and reduce barriers to scholarly communication. It concludes that knowledge achieves its greatest value when it is accessible, discoverable, shareable, and usable for education, innovation, and societal development.