We had the pleasure of hosting Bosun Obileye from DataCite and he shared valuable insights into how Persistent Identifiers (PIDs) are shaping research management and visibility in Africa. The conversation touched on how DataCite is supporting African researchers, institutions, and governments to build trustworthy and sustainable infrastructures for open science through global collaborations, initiatives, and capacity-building activities. This session offered African stakeholders a clear pathway to embrace PIDs and strengthen their presence in the global research ecosystem.

Watch the recording

The slides are available at 10.5281/zenodo.10241917

The session offered an explanation of how PIDs like DOIs help African researchers ensure their work remains discoverable, citable, and protected over time, ultimately strengthening the credibility and impact of African scholarship. Participants learned how African institutions can set up their own local PID services, either individually or through consortia, allowing for more autonomy, visibility, and integration into the global research community. Bosun highlighted the specific challenges African researchers face, such as internet limitations and resource constraints, and discussed practical solutions DataCite and partners are implementing to overcome these hurdles. It was shown how researchers and institutions can access free or low-cost training, participate in communities of practice, and get technical support from DataCite and other allied organizations committed to open science in Africa. The session revealed how African institutions can build partnerships with DataCite, ORCID, RDA, and other global players, positioning themselves at the center of international research collaboration and funding opportunities.

Finally, the discussion emphasized that using PIDs is not just a technical exercise—it’s a way to ensure African research is acknowledged, cited, and respected globally, giving African scholars a stronger voice in shaping future knowledge systems.

How DataCite supports African research

• DataCite website: https://datacite.org/
• The DataCite Metadata Schema is a list of core metadata properties chosen for accurate and consistent identification of a resource for citation and retrieval purposes, along with recommended use instructions.Read more at https://schema.datacite.org/
• The Global Access Program (GAP) is an initiative to improve access and enable communities in lesser-represented regions to further benefit from our open infrastructure services.
• The Global Access Fund (GAF) was established to enable communities worldwide to make their research outputs discoverable

• Technical details on DataCite DOI assignment: https://support.datacite.org/docs/doi-fabrica
  For DOI assignments on individual research items or institutional levels, contact us at info@africarxiv.org and work with UbuntuNet Alliance to identify the most feasible way forward.

Speaker’s profile

^{ORCID: 0000-0002-1200-0994}

Bosun Obileye is the Regional Engagement Specialist –  Africa for DataCite. His career spans the institutionalization of open science from policy development, infrastructural development and implementation, advocacy, engagements and adoption. He has a background in Computer and Information Research Science, Cybersecurity, Research for Development (R4D), and Community Engagements. His interest in Identity and Access Management (IAM) is reflected in Persistent Identifiers (PIDs) as seen in his work with DataCite across sub-Saharan Africa where he engages, collaborates and promotes PIDs best practices and adoption in the region.

Questions that were addressed during the session

How is DataCite currently involved in building and supporting Persistent Identifier infrastructure in Africa?

DataCite is working actively to support African institutions by providing infrastructure that makes it easy to assign DOIs to research outputs. We also offer training, technical support, and resources so organizations can set up and manage their own PID services. Our goal is to empower African research communities to become full participants in the global open science network.

What specific initiatives or projects has DataCite undertaken to promote the adoption of Persistent Identifiers in the African research community?

One of our major initiatives is partnering with regional organizations to raise awareness and offer localized support. We also launched capacity-building programs that include workshops, webinars, and hands-on training to make it easier for African institutions to adopt PIDs without needing heavy technical infrastructure.

Can you share success stories or examples of how Persistent Identifiers have benefited research and data management in Africa?

Absolutely! Several African universities are now using DOIs to manage theses, datasets, and institutional repositories. For example, a few pilot projects in West and Southern Africa have shown how PIDs improved research discoverability, led to new collaborations, and helped researchers track the impact of their work more effectively.

What challenges or barriers exist in promoting and implementing Persistent Identifiers in the African context, and how is DataCite addressing these challenges?

Challenges include limited internet infrastructure, lack of awareness, and funding constraints. DataCite addresses these by offering low-cost membership models, simplifying technical requirements, and partnering with regional networks to deliver training and multilingual resources tailored to African needs.

Are there collaborations or partnerships between DataCite and African institutions, organizations, or governments to enhance the adoption of Persistent Identifiers?

Yes, we have growing collaborations with African libraries, national research councils, and open science platforms. Through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and joint projects, we’re helping build sustainable PID strategies in Africa that align with global standards but are adapted to local realities.

How does DataCite work with other global organizations, such as international funding agencies or data repositories, to align efforts in promoting Persistent Identifiers in Africa?

We closely collaborate with initiatives like ORCID, Crossref, and the Research Data Alliance (RDA) to harmonize PID adoption. By aligning our efforts with funders, repositories, and global networks, we ensure that African research outputs are recognized, discoverable, and valued on the international stage.

About the webinar series

This webinar was co-organized by UbuntuNet Alliance and Access 2 Perspectives as part of the ORCID Global Participation Program.

ORCID is the persistent identifier for researchers to share their accomplishments (research articles, data, etc with funding agencies, publishers, data repositories, and other research workflows.

AfricArXiv is a community-led digital archive for African research communication. By enhancing the visibility of African research, we enable discoverability and collaboration opportunities for African scientists on the continent as well as globally.