NJOMACS

Developments in science, technology, and innovation (STI) are some of the markers in overall economic, social, and cultural progress of nations. Communication is crucial for the dissemination, adoption, and integration of technoscience and innovation culture of nations. This discourse examines the place of science communication and the status of Science Technology and Innovation in Global North nations comparative to selected Global South countries, and particularly BRICS nations, and zeroes in on the implications on Nigeria’s development trajectory. The motivation for this article stems from the fear that if Global South countries, BRICS nations, and particularly Nigeria do not take STI and its communication more seriously as done in the Global North, meaningful and sustained socioeconomic development would continue to elude their people with disastrous consequences. Two theories provide the basis for discourse, namely: Diffusion of innovations and the information society theories. The methodology adopts a literature review approach, using l reports and recently published studies in reputable outlets and statistics from notable global organisations. The findings show that for the Global North, there is serious depth attached to academic, media, public, citizen, industry and government science communication activities. Also, it is marked by institutionalisation, professionalisation, inter, trans, and multidisciplinary, and diversification of rendering as well as dialogic/participatory modes of public engagements. However, the challenges include digital misinformation/disinformation, skepticism/denialism, and contrariness within the scientific/political community. In the Global South, science communication is characterised by poor funding, dismal STI infrastructures, information/communication disparities, and deficits in academic, media, industry, public, and government STI practices. It is concluded that for Nigeria to develop significantly, it must among others: invest meaningfully in STI and science communication, enhance scientific literacy by instigating critical thinking, public engagement in STI, promoting citizen science, entrenching the culture of media science, promoting STEM and STI education, and facilitating partnerships, cooperation, and collaboration involving people, communities, governments, academia, and industry.