….Don identifies sustainable chemistry as panacea for eco-innovation
A lecturer in the Department of Energy and Applied Chemistry at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Prof. Muhammad Al-Mustapha, has identified sustainable chemistry as panacea for eco-innovation societies and industries.
The Don made the assertion at a workshop organized by the American Chemical Society (ACS), Sokoto State University chapter, in collaboration with the Research and Development Centre, Sokoto State University on Wednesday.
At the workshop, held at the Centre for Caliphate Studies with the theme “Tackling the Global Goals through Chemistry,” the Don explained that chemistry can solve societal problems, stressing that everything in the world revolves around chemistry.
Outlining the role of chemists in the process, Al-Mustapha called for the practicability and application of the study of chemistry in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, the programme organizer, Dr. Thompson Ezuagie, described the American Chemical Society as a self-governed organization with more than 200,000 members at all degree levels and in all fields of chemical sciences.
Ezuagie listed the achievements of the association to include the establishment of student chapters in six Nigerian federal universities and state universities.
He commended the Vice Chancellor of Sokoto State University, Prof. Garba Bashir, whom he described as an erudite chemist who always supports the activities of the association in the school.
Speaking, the head of the department of chemistry, Dr. Shamsuddeen Ahmad, said the workshop was attended by academics and stakeholders in chemical sciences who would elaborate on the various sub-themes of the programme.
He urged the participants, especially the students, to pay attention to every presentation to enable them to learn from the workshop.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Garba Bashir, who was represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Prof. Ahmad Sifawa, said the workshop would not only be valuable to chemistry professionals but also to humanity at large.
The theme of the workshop, Bashir noted, was not only timely, but also of essence to the sciences.
He pledged that the university would henceforth set aside a grant for science entrepreneurship, which would encourage the students to frequently carry out their practicals.
He further explained that the school will ensure its students, especially those in the sciences, to acquire skills to enable them be self-sufficient after graduation.
The Commissioner of Science and Technology, Bala Kokani, represented by the Director of Planning in the ministry, Attahiru Jegara, said the Ahmed Aliyu-led administration had given priority to science and technology.
He posited that the administration had put all the machinery in place to revive ailing technical schools in the state.
