Text of an Inaugural Lecture delivered at Yaba College of Technology by Dr. Adeleke Atanda Abiodun, B.Sc.(Hons.)(Unilorin), M.Sc.(Unilorin), Ph. D. (UNAAB)

CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY
Madam Rector Ma, We need to mention that; both Parkia and Andasonia fruit pulps are processed locally to obtain sweets; Parkia fruit pulp is processed to obtain tan-brown extract, a very good imitation of standard Cola drinks. Both fruit pulps contain some sugars, and are rich in ascorbic acid, protein and minerals. But, Andasonia pulp is rich in common organic acids, a good blend of both pulps, if properly processed, could provide a suitable plant extract to serve as a concentrate for non-alcoholic beverages.

During the peak period of maturity, each fruit was collected i.e. Andasonia fruits were collected in February while Parkia fruits were collected in April. After further processing, materials were analyzed according to the Official Analytical Methods 95. The two pulps were studied under four (4) conditions i.e. UPR for untreated Parkia fruit pulp extract kept at room temperature and UAR for untreated Andasonia fruit pulp extract kept at room temperature; TPR and TAR for Parkia and Andasonia fruit pulp extract, respectively, treated with sodium metabisulphite and each material kept at room temperature; TPD and TAD for Parkia and Andasonia fruit pulp extract, respectively, treated with sodium metabisulphite and kept in the dark at room temperature, TPF and TAF for Parkia and Andasonia fruit pulp extract, respectively, treated with sodium metabisulphite and kept at 10oC.

The findings revealed that Andasonia fruit with a much thicker pod testa keeps its pulp intact for a longer time than Parkia Fruit. The disparity in the rates of deterioration of the pulps was observed for the pulps kept in a beaker at room temperature. The highest rate of deterioration was observed in the months of July to September, the peak period of rains and highest humidity of the air in Nigeria. The parkia fruit pulp suffered a loss of 35% total sugar and 55.7% ascorbic acid while Andasonia fruit pulp suffered a loss of 11.3% and 49.9% sugar and ascorbic acid, respectively, at the end of six months. Other constituents of each pulp and, surprisingly, protein, however, maintained a fairly constant value throughout the period of study. The results obtained for samples kept at 10oC, however, indicate that soft drink prepared from any of the pulp will keep better at low temperature (10oC). Sodium metabisulphate was helpful in stabilizing the pulp. It is noteworthy that the pulps keep better at low temperature and if a beverage drink is produced from it, regardless of whether coloured or clear glass containers were used.

Soft drink concentrates may be prepared by various methods using plant materials. 96 prepared refreshing and invigorating beverage concentrate by extracting plant parts. Nagai et al. 97 formulated carbonated health drinks containing Kerb’s cycle acids while Ito et al.98 produced non – alcoholic beverage drinks from fruits and honey. Citrus and other sugar – rich fruits are processed to obtain squash drinks.

Madam Rector Ma, I must through you register my appreciation to University of Ilorin for granting my group the Senate Research Grant to carry out this study. We are also grateful to Mr. S.A. Durojola and Mr. J. Olota for rendering valuable technical assistance in our findings.

Table XVI: Chemical constituents of Parkia and Andasonia Fruit Pulps at Start and End of Experiment

12.1Recommendations
Public
The campaign on tree planting must not be ignored as well as burning of bush and felling of trees.

Indiscrimate disposal of waste should be checked to reduce the havoc caused by flood.
Noise pollution
College management
Immediate implementation of College research policy and Intellectual property.
Provision of a central laboratory manned by a chief technologist where staff can carry out their research works.
Maintenace of our incubator centre, by providing adequate and necessary infastructure and equipment to make the centre function properly, for now it is not functioning at all.
Commercialisation of Research and Development outputs Inventions) should be accorded the support desired and incentives.

Government
How can the law inject sustainability requirements for land use practices, human settlements, housing and transportation, for example? These can be achieved through the following strategies:
Legislation to control tree felling, grazing, bush fires, and other forms of activities resulting in environmental degradation such as erosion, deforestation, desertification, etc.
Tax incentives to encourage a culture of nature conservation
Regulate allocation and use of land, and the management of forests, aquatic and other ecosystems.
Government should show concerns for the environment has prompted the formation of Green parties, political parties that seek to address environmental issues as done in other countries of the world like in Australia, New Zealand and Germany but are now adopted in many other countries.
Strenghten of the weak National Civil and Research and Development infrastructure as well as Research – Industry linkage and Research and Development experts do not integrate fully into the national IP regime.
Full Implementation of National Science and Technology policy with immediate effect. Absence of specific policy direction for entrepreneurship development
Government must enhance value added to natural resources.
Techno-Entrpreneurship is key to enhance industry competitiveness, combat “dumping” and to develop national technological capabilities in various fields.
Government must improve the current poor state of Research – Industry Linkage, improve research – industry partnerships and foster intensity in market-driven research;
We need to fast-track the commercialisation of Research and Development outputs and Government should strenghten the existing IP regime as well as expand the scope of Technology Incubation Systems(TIS)
The National Innovation System (NIS) should be strenghtened, Government should show greater commitment to Science and Technological Research and Development funding.
Government should make science and engineering courses attractive to students through robust education policy and provide incentives for researchers through adequate reward system to promote innovation.
Provision of adequate funding for education in Nigeria

Conclusion
For some years now, scientists have been telling the whole world about climatic changes. They have warned about global warming occasioned by the depletion of the ozone layer. They say because temperatures would go up globally, more ice would melt and the result is that there would be massive flooding. All of these things were witnessed in the past few years. Many places around the world are suffering devastating effects of flooding with attendant loss of lives. Scientists have also advised that we plant more trees and reduce emission of gases to reduce some of these effects. On the other hand, we have been told that some other parts of the world would experience freezing temperatures.

Well, in Europe the story has been very disturbing. Heavy snow and subzero temperatures forced many airports to be closed. Gatwick Airport in Britain was closed for sometime; Edinburgh Airport in Scotland, Lyon-Bron Airport in France, Switzerland’s biggest Airport, was all shut down.
Many English Premier League matches had to be postponed because of freezing conditions. In America, Minneapolis City Stadium couldn’t withstand the weight of a big snow fall. It collapsed under the pressure of snow. The roof panels just couldn’t stand Mother Nature. On the shores of Ohio, a lighthouse was turned to an ice house as it became frozen under sub –zero temperatures. We have had the tsunamis and hurricanes with different names. And nobody seems to have a solution to the Middle East crisis. The question is: Can man tame the world?

The obvious answer is an emphatic “NO.” The scriptures tell us that this present world and all the elements in it shall be destroyed with fervent heat and because of this; we according to His promise must look for a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness would dwell. This calls for a shift in our focus.

Our effort to control second-hand noise is part of a greater effort to protect that which is held in common by the public from exploitation, abuse, and degradation. Other efforts to protect the commons are concerned with protecting our public lands and parks; air, airways, water, and waterways; habitat, species, and bio-diversity. What these efforts share is the recognition that our well-being is enhanced when the commons is used to maximize opportunities for everyone, and degraded when the commons is used to maximize profits or opportunities for a few, or to maximize only a few opportunities.

Polluting the commons is not a right. Our effort to reduce noise pollution is similar to other efforts to reduce pollution and reassert our collective stewardship over the commons. Whether the issue is second-hand smoke, elevated mercury levels, or ground level ozone, the strategy is to protect the environment and our health and well-being by creating an ethic of the commons.

We are seeking to improve human well-being by establishing an ethic for the commons that allows for as many non-consumptive and non-rival uses of the commons as possible. Human well-being is enhanced when individuals or groups succeed in two ways: first, by minimizing damaging uses of the commons, and second, by maximizing the opportunities for non-competing uses. With respect to noise, help us by spreading the message that good neighbors keep their noise to themselves.

For us to be healthy our environment must be neat and quite. Remember that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.

CONCLUDED
• Abiodun is of the Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Science, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.