A distinguished Professor of Chemistry with the University of Lagos, Babajide Alo, has called for articulated control and management of chemical use in Nigeria.
Professor Alo made the call at the 3rd Annual Professor Musbau Akanji Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences Lecture of Kwara State University, Malete.
In his lecture titled “Leveraging on participative global treaties and strategies – imperatives for pollution control and sustainable development”, Professor Alo said there was increasing global demand for chemical-based products and processes which was leading to substantial misuse with adverse effects on human health and the environment.
He added that while they were global regulations to address and control chemical production, use and disposal, Professor Alo said proper enforcement continues to pose a great challenge to African nations.
Nigeria, he said, has taken active part in all major global initiatives and programmes aimed at alleviating global environmental problems, but lack of political will and poor human and institutional capacities, he noted, has continued to hinder effective management of chemical use.
He therefore proffered as solutions, increased financial support for bodies overseeing chemical use, the stoppage of waste dumping in Africa, and working towards a pollution free Africa.
In his opening address at the lecture, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, described the annual Professor Musbau Akanji Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences Lecture as a forum for critical engagement with topical societal concerns.
Professor Jimoh reiterated that the immense contributions of Professor Musbau Akanji to scholarship, administration, and mentorship led to the University naming the Faculty Lecture after him.
Also speaking, the Dean of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Professor Emmanuel Ajani, described the Faculty Lecture as one way to continue sharing knowledge among the town and gown.
