A lecture titled “From Local Raw Materials for Industrial Products to Researches in Reforming Catalyst” was delivered by Prof. Dominic Okechukwu Onukwuli of Chemical Engineering department as the 34th inaugural lecture of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. The lecture delivered on the 8th of December, 2016 at the University Auditorium saw the presence of Professors, both serving and retired, Deans, HODs, Lecturers, Non-teaching Staff, Students, Family members of the lecturer, Friends and well-wishers.
Speaking during his lecture, Prof. Onukwuli said that the industrialization of any nation and its economic growth depends, to a large extent, on the development and utilization of its raw materials. He opined that it is primarily by adding value of resources that nations can best create wealth and generate employment for its people. He stated that the reasons for low local production of raw materials are; Infrastructural deficiency, lack of technical skills and training facilities, adverse effect of globalization, poor funding and hardship investment Climate, inconsistency in policies and policies that are not globally competitive, lack of effective backward integration by large companies and reluctance of some manufacturers to innovate using local alternative.
Emphasizing on small and medium scale enterprises, he said that it should be created to process different raw materials. He encouraged research institutes and Universities to always conduct researches in ways of upgrading our raw materials.
The Chemical Engineer urged Government and private sectors to fund Research and the Development of local raw materials, so as to improve the current situation in the country, implying that it could solve problems of unemployment, create wealth, and raise the nation’s status amongst great nations.
In his Remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. J.E. Ahaneku, FAS who was represented by the DVC (Academic), Prof. Charles Esimone, thanked all who came for the lecture, especially retired professors who make it a point of duty to always attend. According to him, inaugural lectures are an avenue for everyone to add to already acquirede knowledge. He expressed joy that he learnt quite a lot from the lecture.
After the VC’s remark, Prof. Okechukwu D. Onukwuli was decorated as the 34th Inaugural Lecturer of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, by the DVC (Academic).
In his vote of thanks, Prof. Jerome Okafor expressed joy at the success of the 34th lecture of the University. He thanked everyone that found time to come, while urging that its good to make it a point of duty to attend inaugural lectures, because its not just for the faculty involved. The next inaugural lecture according to him will be in February, 2016 by Prof. Emma Okunna.
