The Department of Chemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), has launched the Smart Chemistry Project to revolutionise scientific education and research and tackle real-life problems.
The initiative was unveiled at the department’s inaugural alumni meeting and fundraising, which brought together distinguished alumni, esteemed guests and faculty members.
The Smart Chemistry Project is technologically designed to transform the department into a hub of excellence in scientific teaching, research, and innovation.
In his welcome address, the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Adeyinka Adesina, stressed the importance of the project, noting that scientific education today demands far more than it did in the past.
“It now requires cutting-edge tools, immersive experiences, and teaching that mirrors the demands of modern science and technology. The Smart Chemistry Project seeks to address these demands, investing not only in infrastructure but also in students’ capacity to learn, innovate, and lead.”
According to him, by equipping laboratories with state-of-the-art instruments, providing hands-on training for students, and fostering a culture of critical thinking and creativity, the project aimed to empower students to tackle real-world problems and contribute to national development through science and innovation.
“Over the decades, the Department of Chemistry has played a central role in the training of competent scientists who have gone on to contribute to academia, industry, government, and public service.
“The Smart Chemistry Project is an investment not only in infrastructure but in our students’ capacity to learn, innovate, and lead. With this project, the aim is to equip our laboratories with state-of-the-art instruments, ensure hands-on training for all students, and foster a culture where critical thinking and creativity are part of everyday academic life.”
“For true innovation to occur, our students must be exposed to the kind of training that ignites curiosity, deepens understanding, and inspires problem-solving. A well-equipped laboratory is not a luxury — it is a necessity. It is the workshop where theories are tested, new ideas are born, and scientific breakthroughs are made.
“Moreover, we all believe that this initiative will not stand in isolation. As the Chemistry Department takes bold steps forward, we hope that the Smart Chemistry Project will inspire similar transformations across departments and institutions nationwide, creating a ripple effect of educational renewal and scientific progress,” he stated.
He noted that the project’s impact is expected to extend beyond the Department of Chemistry, inspiring similar transformations across departments and institutions nationwide, adding that the initiative has the potential to create a ripple effect of educational renewal and scientific progress, contributing to a more innovative and self-reliant Nigeria.
On his part, Former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Professor Oladapo Afolabi, stressed the importance of the project, describing it as a transformative initiative aimed at revitalising the Chemistry Department into a hub of cutting-edge scientific teaching, research, and innovation.
OAU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Bamire, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and aligned with the university’s vision of academic and research excellence. “We are proud of our alumni,” he said. “They’ve shown deep passion and commitment to supporting the university in ways that the government alone cannot”, he said.
The launch of the Smart Chemistry Project marks a new era in scientific education and research at OAU, with the potential to shape the next generation of scientists and innovators. As the Department takes bold steps forward, it is poised to lead into the future, driven by a shared vision of innovation, progress, and excellence.
