FG commissions N50m chemical engineering laboratory at ATBU

Tribune Online
FG commissions N50m chemical engineering laboratory at ATBU

In a determination to improving technology development in the court, a N50m upgraded Chemical Engineering Laboratory undertaken by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promoting /PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc has been commissioned at the Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.

While commissioning the laboratory on Friday, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu stressed the importance of technology in the development of any country saying that without such no country can stand.

Ogbonnaya Onu said that the APC led Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to developing the technology sector in order to stand among other nations of the world that are technologically advanced boasting that Nigeria has what it takes to be there.

The Minister added that the focus of the President is to see that in the next 10 years, Nigeria will be rubbing shoulders with other countries of the world in the area of technological development and promotion stressing that Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind.

He then commended the support of PZ Cussons Nigeria in the development of educational technology in the country saying that the efforts are gradually putting the country in the world map of technological development and called on other conglomerates operating in the country to join PZ Cussons in partner with government in the area of technology development.

In his speech at the commissioning, Vice-Chancellor of ATBU, Prof Muhammad Ahmad Abdulazeez stated that the laboratory has put the University’s Chemical Engineering Department on the pedestal for cutting-edge research to determine the characteristics of materials including constituents of crude oil, the composition of mineral samples among others.

He added that with the recent discovery of hydrocarbon in Bauchi state, the laboratory could not have been ready at a more auspicious time than now to fully participate in the petroleum industry.

The VC who was represented by the DVC Administration, Prof Ibrahim Hassan Garba stated that, “it may interest you to know that before now, we used to conduct those tests I enumerated above at Zaria and Kano. Considering the huge financial implications involved in those trips, the man-hour and risks factor, words are not enough to express our gratitude to NOTAP and PZ Cussons for upgrading this laboratory”.

He then assured the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the DG of NOTAP and the MD of PZ Cussons that they will not regret their investment in the facility declaring that, “we have the intellectual capacity and will to make the best use of these items of equipment”.

Also speaking, the DG/CEO of NOTAP, Dr Dan’Azumi Ibrahim Mohammed stressed that there is the need to promote technological development in the country so that it will not continue to be dependant on the importation of technology from other countries of the world.

The NOTAP Boss added that Nigeria has the potential to be one of the greatest technology hotbeds of the world considering the fact that it has many people who are currently making positive impact around the world in technology development.

He then commended PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc for its contributions to the technology development of the country saying that the at present five Universities across the country are beneficiaries of the collaboration between NOTAP and PZ Cussons.

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In his brief remarks, the MD of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Mr Christos Gianmopoulos stated that the project promoted by NOTAP was sponsored by PZ Cussons Nigeria and was started in 2015 with the mission to upgrade chemical laboratory facilities which are necessary to create enabling environment for quality scientific research as well as to foster better academia-industry relationship by bridging the gap that exists.

He added that with the commissioning of the ATBU laboratory, it has brought to five Universities in the country that have benefitted from the scheme including Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, University of Calabar, National Research Institute for Chris Technology, Zaria, Federal University of Technology, Ndufu, Ebonyi and ATBU, Bauchi.

Christos Gianmopoulos added that, Pz Cussons Nigeria has been involved in education through its Foundation and other social programs pointing out that the company has built a number of fully furnished classrooms blog at different locations in the six geopolitical zones of the country as well as rehabilitated libraries, students’ hostels, assembly halls, dining and administrative blocks.

“To promote the study of science in secondary schools, we sponsor PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge. The winner in this competition as well as their tutors and schools win various prizes. We also give them access to our research facilities to prepare them to become scientists of the future”, he added.

The PZ MD concluded that “in addition to the project of upgrading chemical facilities, we also collaborate with NOTAP in sponsoring of doctoral research and workshops. Science and technology are the soul of our operation and remains the future. Therefore, it is only natural to direct funds for our social investment into this calling”.

FG commissions N50m chemical engineering laboratory at ATBU
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