REPORT ON THE ACS NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL CHEMICAL SCIENCES CHAPTER 2018 ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM
INTRODUCTION
The 2018 Annual Symposium of the ACS Nigeria International Chemical Sciences Chapter was held at the Le Meridien Hotel & Ibom Golf Resort, Uyo, March 4-6, 2018. The symposium was held on the theme: ‘Sustainable Chemistry: Eco-innovation for Equitable Societies and Industries.” The objectives of the symposium were:
• To initiate a process to give sustainable chemistry initiatives and start-ups a voice, including
at relevant international meetings and conferences;
• To establish an informal sustainable chemistry start-up network in Nigeria and establish
collaborations with international networks; and
• To facilitate information exchange and the provision of mutual support among sustainable
chemistry entrepreneurs and researchers.
Participants from the academia, industry, research institutes, government ministries and
departments, non-governmental organizations, small and medium enterprises attended the
symposium.
The event was also attended by invited guests and dignitaries including: The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Science & Technology, Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Nse U. Essien; Chairman, Ibom Power Company, Engr. Etido Inyang who also chaired the opening ceremony; Environment Manager, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Mr. Augustine Igbuku who also served as the Keynote Speaker, and Prof. Anthony I. Okoh, Director, SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre at University of Fort Hare, South Africa.
HIGHLIGHT OF KEY ACTIVITIES
(a) Plenary Sessions
The plenary sessions were held on the following topics:
(i) Adding Value to the Industry for Environmental Sustainability: Expectations from the Chemist,
presented by Mr. Augustine Igbuku, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria
(ii) Zeolite Catalysts for Clean and Sustainable Energy Production, presented by Dr. Ubong Etim,
College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, China
(b) Technical Sessions
The technical sessions were grouped into five sub-themes: Chemicals monitoring and risk assessment for safer environment; Materials for cleaner energy and environment; Sustainable industrial processes through green synthetic chemistry and catalysis; Waste valorization for energy and nutrient recovery; and New phyto- and agro-chemicals for sustainable agriculture and health. A total of 64 oral and 20 poster presentations were made. The poster session was co-organised by the International Younger Chemists Network (IYCN) with sponsorships for best Poster Presentation Awards on two categories: Undergraduate and Postgraduate.
(c) Student Activities
The University of Uyo Student Chapter co-organized a session for students which involved the
Research Poster Session, Career Counseling Interactive Session which featured the ACS Nigeria
Chapter Chairman, Professor Joshua A. Obaleye and Mr. Augustine Igbuku as speakers. Presentations on scholarship opportunities and the Global Chemists Code of Ethics (GCCE) workshop were also held.
Hundred of student participants from various universities attended the event.