Decentralized Approach to Ontology Development for Improved Knowledge Sharing and Reuse: Evidence and Implications from Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Ontology development has traditionally relied on centralized frameworks, which impose significant constraints on scalability, collaborative participation, and adaptability within dynamic, distributed knowledge environments. This study examines decentralized approaches to ontology engineering as a viable alternative to conventional methodologies, with a focus on enhancing knowledge sharing and reuse across heterogeneous systems in Rivers State, Nigeria. Through a systematic literature review guided by the PRISMA framework, this paper analyses the limitations of centralized ontology development paradigms, evaluates enabling technologies, including blockchain, InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), and distributed ledger technologies, and synthesizes current models of decentralized ontology engineering. The study further appraises the applicability of these approaches within Rivers State, where rapid urbanization, oil-and-gas sector digitization, agricultural transformation, and e-governance initiatives generate rich but organizationally fragmented domain knowledge. Findings indicate that decentralized frameworks offer substantial advantages in transparency, semantic provenance, community-driven governance, and real-time collaborative updates; however, challenges persist in semantic consistency, version control, and tooling support. A four-layer conceptual framework for decentralized ontology development is proposed, and priority areas for future empirical research and deployment are identified, with specific reference to the Rivers State context..