Follow Us on Google
From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Metallurgical and Materials Engineer, Engr. Reuben Kabantiyok, has called on Nigeria to urgently embrace nanotechnology and materials research as a pathway to sustainable development, warning that continued dependence on imported healthcare, energy, and defence technologies is leaving the country vulnerable.
In an interview, Kabantiyok, a PhD researcher at the University of Tulsa, told newsmen that “no nation can rise above the quality of its science and technology.”
According to him, Nigeria imports nearly 90 percent of its medical devices, most renewable energy systems, and all advanced defence materials, saying “This makes us vulnerable.”
Speaking from experience, he said, “During COVID-19, I led a team of engineers and scientists to build a mechanical ventilator prototype, but we lacked the infrastructure to mass-produce them.
“Compare that with South Africa, which was able to quickly adapt its nanotechnology centers to produce diagnostic tools and sanitization solutions.”
Kabantiyok explained that nanotechnology, which involves manipulating materials at the atomic and molecular scale, could yield breakthrough solutions in healthcare, energy, and defence.
“At that level, steel can become lighter but stronger; drugs can target only cancer cells instead of harming the whole body; and solar panels can absorb far more energy than conventional ones,” he said.
On healthcare, he noted that Nigeria’s rising cases of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer demand local solutions.
“Right now, our stents, implants, and diagnostic devices are imported. But using materials like Nitinol, which is already transforming heart care globally, we could produce stents locally customised for our physiology.
“With nanotechnology, we could also develop targeted malaria treatments or lab-on-chip diagnostic kits for rural clinics,” he said.
On energy, Kabantiyok lamented that over 85 million Nigerians still lack reliable power despite abundant sunlight and agricultural byproducts.
Citing examples from India, Brazil, and South Africa, Kabantiyok argued that Nigeria’s challenge is not a lack of talent but a lack of intentionality.
“India created a dedicated nanotechnology mission. Brazil tied research to its industries, ensuring lab work became products. South Africa invested in nanotechnology for water purification and health, linking research directly to social needs.
“Nigeria has the talent and raw materials; we only lack the structured investment and national strategy,” he said.
Outlining three immediate priorities, he called for dedicated funding for nanoscience centers, policy incentives for industry-research partnerships, and a national strategy tying science to economic and security priorities.
“Our future cannot be built on imports alone. Countries that invest in science are the ones shaping the future.
“Nigeria has everything it needs-talent, materials, and critical needs that demand innovation. If we harness materials research and nanotechnology today, we can create affordable healthcare devices, reliable energy solutions, and indigenous defence technologies.
“If we are serious about building a healthy, secure, and self-reliant Nigeria, the time to act is now,” he stressed.
