Experts urge chemical engineers to focus on industry-specific projects

Experts have called on chemical engineers to focus more on industry-specific projects and solutions that could benefit the people, and help to grow the economy.

The former senior official of the Raw Materials, Research and Development Council, Dr Daniel Ayo, joined others to make the call during the yearly public lecture and 80th birthday of emeritus professor of chemical engineering, Alfred Susu, organised by the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, Lagos/Ogun Chapter.

Ayo highlighted that if projects were industry-specific, students would be able to relate with them, and that would also promote stronger relationships among the industry, the academy, government and the private sector.

According to him, with abundance of coconut, water, and fish in Lagos, the universities, polytechnics, and other institutions within the state should direct their projects towards what the industries around them need that could get funding support.

He stated further that the society needs more focus on demand-driven research.

“If you sit down in your office, and come up with an idea on how to convert gold to water, it is fantastic research but does the society need that now?

“But if your research focuses on how to convert water to gold, that is the immediate needs of the society,” he stated.

Ayo charged practitioners to explore the vast opportunities that chemical engineering offered in areas such as, nanotechnology, agriculture, biochemistry, medicine and others to create jobs instead of waiting for opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

He encouraged upcoming engineers to emulate Susu by working hard and preparing to sacrifice because the field was very demanding.

President of the Nigeria Academy of Engineering and chairman of the occasion, Alex Ogedengbe, also advised upcoming engineers to emulate Susu’s devotion to the teaching profession and contributions to the chemical and petroleum industry in Nigeria.

On his part, the Chairman, Lagos/Ogun Chapter of NSChE, Dr Kamilu Oyedeko, pointed out that Susu’s worthy contributions to the development of chemical engineering in Nigeria deserved commendation and celebration.