IUPAC seeks commercialisation of research findings in Nigeria

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has described Nigeria as a champion in Africa, based on its leading roles on growth and development of the organisation. It said Nigerians have made lots of outstanding contributions to the union, in terms of ideas and publication of journals.

Prof. Javier Garcia-Martinez of the University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain and President of IUPAC made this known in his keynote address at the opening of the 8th Annual Symposium of American Chemical Society (ACS), Nigeria International Chemical Sciences Chapter, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, with the theme, ‘Innovation in Chemical Sciences: From Discovery to Commercialisation’.

Garcia-Martinez said it had become important that universities emphasise commercialisation of scientific discoveries, and that the importance of a chemist becoming an entrepreneur, by turning his or her discovery into a commercial venture, cannot be over emphasised. He 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. He also harped on the need to evolve chemistry in industrial reuse.

Garcia-Martinez, who is also a professor of Inorganic Chemistry and director of the Molecular Nanotechnology Lab at the University of Alicante, said the roles of chemists include helping to decrease emissions from transportation in a variety of ways, developing cleaner fuels, assisting in sustaining the climate and preserving the environment.

Garcia-Martinez, who spoke virtually, expressed delight with the theme of the symposium and congratulated the International Younger Chemists Network and other organisations for the wonderful work they are doing to promote chemical sciences.

He said: “I am also glad to see many young people in the audience. We need to advance chemical sciences. Change is all about people and education is the way forward.

“Also, every 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.”

Chairman, IUPAC Committee on Chemistry Education, Marietjie Potgieter, harped on the need for renewal energy and the need to preserve the environment.

Chairman of American Chemical Society (ACS), Nigeria Chapter, Prof. Joshua Obaleye, thanked God that despite the non-equilibrium 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 at the University of Ilorin, said the symposium promises to be a harvest of intellectual discourse and objective feedback that would propel chemical scientists to embrace entrepreneurial thinking in research commercialisation.

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.

On her part, President of Federation of African Societies of Chemistry and Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Gloria Obuzor, stressed the need for the commercialisation of innovative research results for the benefit of the larger society.

Obuzor, who said she has converted local fruits to fruit wine, lamented that in Nigeria, chemists are trying chemistry instead of practising the profession as done in advanced countries. Obuzor lamented that efforts at commercialising research innovations in Nigeria were being hindered by factors such as poor infrastructure.

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.
Goodwill messages came from Professor Hamza Abba, President, Science Association of Nigeria, among others.

The four-day conference also witnessed the recognition of the chemists for their outstanding contributions towards the development of chemistry scientific world.

The awardees in the chemists category were: Vice Chancellor University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Kayode Adebowale; Chancellor and past Chairman Board of Trustee, Lead City University, Ibadan, Emeritus Prof Gabriel Ogunmola; President, Federation of African Societies of Chemistry, Prof. Gloria Obuzor; Snr QHSE Manager, Brass Petrochemical Company Victoria Island Lagos, Dr. Iniobong Ogbonna, and Manager, Planning and Commercial NNPC, Port-Harcourt, Mrs. Ekanem Ofoegbu.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, was the only nominee under the Education category, while Jubilee Syringe Onna Akwa Ibom State, Bayer crop Science, United States and Shell Petroleum Development Company, Rivers State were other awardees.