The recent five-day Virtual Conference and National Inter-University Competition on Green Chemistry (VCNIUC) organised by MoreGreen Plus and Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, brought together some of the brightest minds from across Nigeria to advance innovative solutions and promote sustainability in the field of Green Chemistry.
With the theme ‘Innovating with Green Chemistry in the 21st Century,’ the conference pooled 952 registered participants from more than 35 universities within and outside Nigeria.
Hosted virtually and funded by the Green Chemistry Education Challenge award won by Drs Oyesolape Basirat Akinsipo and Oluwaseun Hannah Anselm, the competition provided a platform for students, academics and industry professionals to share knowledge, network, and advance the cause of environmental stewardship.
The event aimed to inspire future leaders and innovators committed to creating a sustainable future.
Keynote speakers include Professor Enoch Olugbenga Dare of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (who discussed ‘Green Chemistry, Nanotechnology and Circular Economy as a Nexus towards a Sustainable Future’); Professor Agbaje Lateef of the Department of Microbiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (who spoke on ‘From Lab to Market: Nanotechnology Innovations’), and Associate Professor Temilola Oluseyi, who spoke on ‘Green Chemistry and Global Health: Creating a Safer and Cleaner Future’.
In his welcome address, the vice chancellor of TASUED, Professor Oluwole Banjo, emphasised the importance of green chemistry in addressing environmental pollution and climate change.
He stressed the need for collaboration between academic institutions and industry leaders in developing environment-friendly chemical processes.
One of the resource persons, Professor Dare, highlighted the synergy between green chemistry, nanotechnology and the circular economy, illustrating how these three domains interconnect to pave the way for a sustainable future.
He highlighted how nanotechnology could revolutionise industries through eco-friendly and efficient solutions, and emphasised the importance of adopting circular economy principles to maximise resource use, minimise waste and foster long-term environmental health.
Professor Lateef’s keynote address focused on the transition of nano technology innovations from the laboratory to the market, showcasing several groundbreaking nanotechnology applications poised to address real-world challenges, from healthcare advancements to environmental solutions.
He spoke on the importance of commercialising academic research to drive economic growth and promote sustainable development.
Professor Temilola Oluseyi addressed the crucial role of green chemistry in enhancing global health, emphasising the need for safer and cleaner chemical processes and how green chemistry can significantly reduce environmental pollutants and toxic substances, thus creating healthier communities worldwide.
Experts at the panel discussion also offered sperspectives on the definition and importance of green chemistry in the 21st century, with a consensus that green chemistry represents a paradigm shift towards more sustainable and environment-friendly chemical processes and products.
Discussants also noted the obstacles faced by institutions in incorporating green chemistry principles. While some institutions, such as TASUED have made significant progress in this area, others face significant obstacles.
“We’ve seen growing interest from students and faculty alike,” shared a professor from a leading Nigerian university. “However, we still struggle with limited resources and the need for more specialised training for educators.”
There was a consensus, however, that overcoming these challenges would require concerted efforts from academic institutions, government bodies and industry partners.
The conference highlighted several advancements in green chemistry, with potential applications across various industries. Panelists discussed innovations in areas such as biocatalysis, renewable feedstocks and energy-efficient reaction processes.
However, they also acknowledged the challenges of implementing these innovations on a larger scale, particularly in developing countries.
Panelists agreed on the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and government in advancing green chemistry initiatives.
Emphasis was also placed on raising public awareness about green chemistry and its potential impact on sustainability, with panelists suggesting, among others, the need to leverage social media and digital platforms, as well as integrating green chemistry principles into the curricula at all levels of education.
“It’s crucial that we start introducing these concepts early,” said an educator on the panel. “From primary school through university, students should understand the role of chemistry in creating a sustainable future.”
Running alongside the conference was the inter-university competition, which aimed to foster innovation and collaboration in green chemistry among Nigerian academic institutions.
Twenty two institutions of higher learning across Nigeria were invited. At the end of the competition, Chrisland University, Abeokuta, emerged first, followed by Koladaisi University Ibadan, with the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, coming third.
