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Nigeria’s chemists are calling for a deeper investment in research, innovation and industry partnerships, warning that scientific breakthroughs will have limited impact if they remain confined to laboratories.
The call came at the 49th Annual International Conference, Workshop and Exhibition of the Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN), which opened in Abuja on Tuesday with more than 1,200 participants from Nigeria and beyond.
The conference, themed “Innovations in Chemistry for Industrial, Environmental and Social Responsibility” is focused on the responsible practice of chemistry to help Nigeria confront challenges ranging from industrial development and environmental degradation to healthcare and national security.
In his address, the CSN President, Prof. Rufus Sha’atu, said chemistry is the heart of modern life, from food production and medicines to energy, security, clothing, mobility and personal care products.
He noted that Nigeria had not sufficiently translated the knowledge generated by its scientists into sustainable solutions to drive national development and industrial revolution.
“Chemistry has implications for 11 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making the discipline central to efforts to tackle food insecurity, environmental degradation, healthcare challenges and climate change and therefore requires intentional investment in chemical research, development and innovation” he said.
For Sha’atu, the challenge is not a lack of scientific relevance but a failure to build the partnerships and investment structures required to move discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace.
“Beyond knowledge sharing and showcasing scientific discoveries at Conferences, which is mostly at the laboratory scale, a lot more needs to be done if Nigeria is to achieve its developmental goals, and be a global player in the drive for a climate resilient, healthy, industrially responsible and environmentally sound world” Sha’atu said.
He also called for the appointment of a new Governing Council for the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON), the key regulatory institution for chemistry professionals so that the Institute can return to its path of legality in its operations.
In his keynote address, Prof. Goodwill Ofunne, Chairman of FISAS Group, said the future of chemistry lay in innovation that could deliver more useful products while consuming fewer resources and generating less waste.
“The future belongs to chemists who embrace green chemistry — those who do more with less and innovate processes that promote environmental sustainability and social responsibility,” he said.
Ofunne said chemistry was already reshaping industries through digitalisation, artificial intelligence-driven analysis, advanced catalysts, biodegradable polymers and low-carbon products.
Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, he added, offered a major field for such innovation. From oilfield chemicals and crude separation to refinery processes, pipeline corrosion control and enhanced oil recovery, he said, petroleum chemistry remained central to extracting greater value from the country’s hydrocarbon resources.
But the environmental cost of those resources cannot be ignored. Ofunne called for greater attention to the chemistry of gas utilisation and the reduction of gas flaring, noting that advances in hydrocarbon chemistry could help Nigeria use its resources more efficiently while reducing environmental damage.
The question of how science can contribute to national security also featured prominently at the conference.
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, represented by Rear Adm. Olusanya Bankole, said the growing complexity of security threats required closer cooperation between scientists, defence institutions, government agencies, industry and universities.
Musa said he was encouraged by the inclusion of forensic and advanced chemistry for national security, safety and justice delivery in the conference programme.
“This reflects the growing role of science and technology, as well as specialised expertise and training, in strengthening national security, ensuring public safety and enhancing confidence in our institutions,” he said.
He urged universities and security institutions to explore research grants and collaborative programmes capable of turning scientific knowledge into practical security solutions.
For Nigeria, the opportunity is considerable.
The country has universities, research institutions and a large community of scientists, but the weak connection between research and industrial application continues to limit the economic value of scientific discoveries.
The event also featured the plenary presentation by the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola C. Adeyeye, conferment of CSN Distinguished Leadership Award on Honourable Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN and the Honourable Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal.
Other major highlights of the conference include Business Roundtable, presentation of prizes to winners of the 2026 National Chemistry Quiz Competition and the election of new CSN national executives.
The newly elected officers include Dr. Ebitimi Berezi (President elect), Chm. Buba Usman Shanu (Vice President elect), Chem. Kehinde Oisemaye (Secretary elect), Prof. Joseph Akan (Membership Secretary elect), Chm. Isijaan Nkanta (Publicity Secretary elect), Dr. Frank Oteiva (Assist Secretary elect), Prof. Theresa Onuegbu (Financial Secretary elect) and Dr. Stella Nweze-Akpa (Treasurer elect) and six other national deputy vice presidents elect.
The conference, which runs until September 18, is bringing together researchers, policymakers, industry practitioners and other stakeholders to examine green chemistry, smart industrial processes, chemical governance and responsible innovation.
