The 11th Annual Symposium of the American Chemical Society Nigeria International Chemical Sciences Chapter highlighted the vit...
The 11th Annual Symposium of the American Chemical Society Nigeria International Chemical Sciences Chapter highlighted the vital role of chemistry in driving sustainable development and national growth. Participants collectively emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria to adopt green chemistry principles and environmentally responsible practices to accelerate innovation and development.
The symposium, themed “Emerging Technologies in Chemistry for Sustainable Development,” was held at the University of Ibadan and attracted academics, researchers, industry experts, and policymakers from within and outside Nigeria. The forum provided opportunities to examine how emerging chemical technologies can address societal and developmental challenges.
In her welcome address, the Chair of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Ganiyat Oloyede, expressed gratitude to the ACS Nigeria Chapter for selecting the University of Ibadan as host. She underscored Ibadan’s strong academic legacy and stressed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in solving global problems.
The Chair of ACS Nigeria, Edu J. Inam, explained that the symposium theme was designed to explore chemistry-driven solutions to climate change, environmental sustainability, energy security, and public health challenges. She encouraged innovative thinking, knowledge translation, and mentorship, particularly for students and early-career researchers, while highlighting the Chapter’s progress in research visibility and global engagement.
Declaring the symposium open, the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, represented by Dr. Stella C. Igwilo, lamented Nigeria’s slow progress in chemical technology despite abundant natural resources. He proposed a three-point strategy focusing on local value addition, increased investment in research and development, and the promotion of green chemistry and sustainable practices.
The Minister also urged the ACS Nigeria Chapter to function as a technical advisory body for government and industry in policy formulation, standards setting, and technology validation. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the science and innovation ecosystem, particularly in healthcare, energy transition, industrial competitiveness, and environmental protection.
Keynote and plenary lectures showcased cutting-edge research in sustainable and translational chemistry. Presentations covered topics such as radiopharmaceuticals for disease detection, interdisciplinary approaches to malaria research, green chemistry practices, renewable energy integration, photocatalysis, and the industrial relevance of catalysts, reinforcing chemistry’s broad societal impact.
The symposium also featured capacity-building sessions, including a workshop on effective academic publishing and a student-focused symposium themed “From Laboratory to Society.” These sessions strengthened research communication skills, promoted collaboration, and encouraged students to translate laboratory innovations into solutions with real societal and entrepreneurial value.
The event concluded with awards recognizing outstanding contributions to STEM education and sustainable chemistry, alongside recommendations to strengthen research infrastructure, deepen industry–academia partnerships, and accelerate renewable energy adoption. Overall, the symposium reaffirmed the importance of collective action in translating chemical research into practical solutions for a sustainable Nigeria
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