Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, in conjunction with the University of Lagos (UNILAG), recently exposed undergraduate students of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering to the world of polyurethane evolutions with the company’s focus on giving back to the education sector.
The one-day seminar at the university campus, themed ‘Polyurethane in Practice, the Science, and the Business’, witnessed the practical demonstration of polyurethane innovations.
Addressing the participants, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Vitafoam Nigeria PLC, Taiwo Adeniyi, disclosed that the company is an industry leader in polyurethane applications in the West African sub-region.
Adeniyi stated that the seminar’s objective, among others, was to continually stimulate robust conversation about innovations and developments in polyurethane applications for industrial advancement.
“I believe that fresh ideas from this conference will enrich the knowledge base of the students in polyurethane formulation and applications towards sustainable industrial developments of our country and also serve as a catalyst for strengthening research activities. The collaborative effort is part of Vitafoam’s sustainability initiatives to drive beneficial cooperation between academia and the industry.
“For our students, the future of this nation and the hope for a new world order, the seminar presents a good platform to situate classroom learning experience in the context of actual development around the globe,” Adeniyi said.
The UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof Folasade Ogunsola, said, “For some of us not in the chemistry field, we have the knowledge, and we know that chemistry is actually one of the bases of life. And therefore, we will be seeing today that polyurethane is involved in almost every household product that is being used today.”
In his presentation, the Chief Executive Officer of Purcom Brazil, Gerson Silva, stated that polyurethane was the next industry evolution and it would be challenging for everyone, especially the students.
He urged the students to use the seminar to advance their career paths.
In her welcome address, the Chairman of Vitafoam Nigeria PLC, Prof Rosemary Egonmwan, said the one-day seminar aimed at demonstrating the company’s commitment to supporting education and other initiatives that expand the frontier of learning.
Egonmwan noted that the seminar would provide a platform for exchanging knowledge and insights into the practical application of polyurethane in business.
“Vitafoam Nigeria, with its subsidiaries, is the leading manufacturer of flexible and rigid fibre products in Nigeria and, indeed, West Africa. As a professor, I am confident that this seminar will leave an enduring impact on each participant,” she said.
