A university don, Professor Hussein Kehinde Okoro of the Department of Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Ilorin, has called on the Federal Government to establish major, well-equipped research laboratories across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones to ease the challenges faced by researchers in carrying out their work effectively.
Professor Okoro made the call while delivering the university’s 292nd Inaugural Lecture, titled “Leveraging the Expertise of Chemists in Environmental Management: A Focus on Analytical, Environmental and Material Fields,” held recently at the University of Ilorin’s main auditorium.
He stressed that the absence of advanced laboratory infrastructure continues to hinder scientific research and innovation in the country, particularly in the field of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry.
“The Federal Government should establish major and well-equipped research laboratories with state-of-the-art facilities in different geopolitical zones,” he said. “This will ease the problems and challenges faced by researchers when they need to analyse their samples.”
The scholar lamented that many doctoral students in Analytical and Environmental Chemistry struggle to access or operate advanced analytical instruments because such facilities are not readily available in Nigeria.
“Most of our doctoral students have to send samples abroad for analysis after preparation, which is a major problem. Stakeholders must urgently address this to prevent the collapse of our education system,” he warned.
Professor Okoro also appealed to the Federal Government to make laws more flexible to allow researchers to procure chemicals and other essential materials for their work with ease. He urged relevant regulatory bodies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria, and the Chemical Society of Nigeria to spearhead reforms in this area.
The academic further called for increased financial support for postgraduate students, describing them as the “heartbeat of any university” in terms of research output. He said the provision of bursaries and scholarships would reduce the rising “japa” syndrome, where young scholars migrate abroad for better research opportunities.
He also urged university managements to introduce University Research Funds for both graduate and undergraduate students, similar to what is obtainable in countries such as South Africa, India, and several European nations.
In addition, Professor Okoro advocated for legislation banning the importation and use of ships coated with antifouling agents within Nigeria’s marine ecosystems, warning that such chemicals contribute to organism pollution.
“If this law is enacted, the level of pollution in our marine environment will be significantly reduced,” he added.
