Inadequate lab equipment limiting technological breakthroughs in Nigeria ― FUTA don

A professor of Analytical Chemistry and Instrumentation at the Federal University of Technology, Christina Adeeyinwo, says a dearth of innovative lab ware that are safe and convenient to use in laboratories is impeding technological breakthroughs in Nigeria.

Professor Adeeyinwo stated this while delivering her valedictory lecture entitled, ‘Automaton in the Laboratory: Popularity or Magic’ on November 9, 2021.

The don said it was pertinent to address, as a matter of urgency, the challenges of apparatus and instrument limitations in chemical laboratories in order to improve the quality of teaching and research in chemical instrumentation in Nigeria.

Apart from making the lab ware available, Professor Adeeyinwo recommended that technological scientists from senior secondary to tertiary levels should be given face-to-face hands-on training in design and innovative lab ware to use as it is required in their profession.

To this end she said tertiary institutions should be equipped with glass blowing units to serve the fabrication and repairs of glass ware; plastic molding units to serve the fabrication of plastic ware, and metal machining units to serve the fabrication and repairs of metal ware.

She said laboratory automation is the answer to drudgery in the laboratory and the key to churning out accurate results that will fast-track research and innovations.

Highlighting the importance of chemistry to industrial development, Adeeyinwo said the procedural method development and preparative procedures in Analytical Chemistry have resulted in value additions to industrial products.

She listed these products to include glass, cashew, oil palm, cocoa, coconut and butcher bones used to produce laboratory chemical reagents.

Adeeyinwo stated that her research expertise in Analytical Chemistry with Chemical Instrumentation was flow injection- Analytical techniques, Atomic Absorption and UV/Visible Spectrometry.

She said the apparatuses designed and fabricated include dilution manifold for normal calibrations in spectrometry; precipitation manifold for interference removal in spectrometry; circulatory manifold for finite and infinite dilutions in spectrometry; optical filter for absorbance measurement as well as crucible furnace for high temperature reactions.

According to the vice chancellor FUTA, Professor Joseph Fuwape, who chaired the event, Adeeyinwo served as the head of department of Chemistry FUTA from1996 to 1998. Her research interest with experiential skills was conducted in international and national institutions.

Professor Adeeyinwo taught at the University of Technology, Loughborough, England, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Nigeria, and the Federal University of Technology Akure.

Professor Fuwape described Adeeyinwo as a cerebral scholar who provided academic leadership to the university community during her long sojourn in academia.

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