The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) described Nigeria as a champion in Africa based on its leading roles to the growth and development of the body.
Speaking virtually at the opening of the 8th Annual Symposium of American Chemical Society, Nigeria International Chemical Sciences Chapter at Watbridge Hotel and Suites, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Monday, the IUPAC President, Javier García-Martínez, said Nigerians have made a lot of outstanding contributions to the organisation in terms of ideas and publication of journals.
García-Martínez, however, advocated the need to re-engineer the circular economy at the molecular scale to achieve a viable and healthy planet.
According to him, rethinking Chemistry for circular economy involves profound changes, from the way molecules are conceived to how processes are designed to ensure traceability, recyclability and reuse ,harping on the need to evolve chemistry in the industrial reuse.
García-Martínez, who is also a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and the director of the Molecular Nanotechnology Lab at the University of Alicante, Spain, spoke on the theme: Innovation in Chemical Sciences: From discovery to commercialization of the five-day symposium.
He emphasised the importance of chemist becoming entrepreneur by turning his discovery to commercial venture.
Hear him, ‘‘very group leader is an entrepreneur. To be one, it must start with customer discovery, customer validation, customer creation, and company building.’’
‘‘In thinking to develop the company, an entrepreneur must be motivated to develop business model, marketing opportunity, business plan and team,’’ the founder of Rive Technology, Inc. in Boston, USA noted.
He outlined the roles of chemists to include helping to decrease emissions from transport in a variety of ways ranging from developing cleaner fuels, assisting in sustaining the climate change and preserving the environment.
In his welcome remarks, Professor Joshua Obaleye, the Chairman of American Chemical Society, Nigeria Chapter, thanked God that despite the non-equilibrium situation facing the world today, an open window is still created by God for His people.
He recalled that this year’s event started with a pre-symposium event called ‘‘Early Career Scientists and Students Workshop’’ held virtually on May 30, 2023.
Obaleye, who is also a professor of Chemistry in the University of Ilorin, said the symposium promises to be a harvest of intellectual discourse and objective feedbacks that would propel chemical scientist to embrace entrepreneurial thinking in research commercialisation.
The Chairman assured that they would recognize ‘‘who is who’’ in Chemistry and industry as a way of showcasing worthy roles models in the Chemistry profession to the next generation.
Gloria Obuzor, President of Federation of African Societies of Chemistry, said she has converted local fruits to fruit wine.
Obuzor, a professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, lamented that ‘‘in Nigeria, we are trying Chemistry instead of practising the profession as done in advanced countries.’’
She mentioned challenges facing the profession to include poor electricity supply, dearth of grants, dearth of modern laboratory equipment and dearth of funds to publish journals, advising young Chemists to be serious and hard working as they could access funds to undertake their venture.
Earlier, Nnanake-Abasi Offiong, the Chairman of Local Organising Committee, had said the symposium has provided the body an opportunity to provide avenues for impactful prospects to their communities, hoping that it would allow for cross-pollination of ideas for a better future, both individually and as groups.
At the ceremony, Professor Kayode Adebowale, Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan; Professor Gabriel B. Ogunmola, Chancellor of Lead University; Professor Gloria Obuzor, Bureau member of IUPAC, Dr. Iniobong Ogbonna, Senior QHSE Manager, Brass Petrochemical Company Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos and Mrs Ekanem E. Ofoegbu, Manager, Planning and Commercial Nigerian National Petroleum Company, Port Harcourt bagged awards in Distinguished Chemists Category.
Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo was the only awardee in Education category; while Jubilee Syringe, Onna, Akwa Ibom State; Bayer Crop Science, United States and The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria were awardees in Industry category.
In an interview with journalists, Marietjie Potgieter, Chairman, IUPAC Committee on Chemistry Education harped the need for renewal energy and the need to preserve the environment.
Goodwill messages came from Professor Hamza Abba, President, Science Association of Nigeria, among others.
Meanwhile, an international conference will hold at Hague from August 20-25, this year while the 9th Annual Symposium will hold in Lagos next year.
