Provide More Funds for Research, Don Tells Govt

James Sowole in Akure

A university don, Professor Isiaka Amoo has called on government at all levels to provide adequate research funding for tertiary institutions and research institutes to encourage ground-breaking findings and promote qualitative research.

Amoo, a professor of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, made the call as part of the recommendations of the 82nd inaugural lecture of the institution, which he delivered recently.

The don, who spoke on the topic ‘Plant Seed Chemical: Renewable Raw Material for Industrial Applications’, called for collaboration among research institutes, universities and industries to make research directional and for proper utilisation of research findings and output.
The former Chairman of the Ondo State Technical Review Panel on Environmental Impact Assessment stressed the need for researches tailored towards situation.

“Scholars need to focus on need-driven research work that will meet the current situation and expectation and for interdisciplinary approach that will promote a robust research output.”
He also called on the government and all educational institutions to, as a matter of urgency, make the supply of electricity a priority for better and efficient research work.

The lecturer recommended the production of plant seed chemicals as substitutes for imported raw materials, saying that the substitution and use of seed chemicals would provide opportunity in chemical and allied enterprises for the expansion of the national industrial base.

Quoting findings from his research works, he pointed out that biodiesel can be produced abundantly from the extracted oil of snake gourds seeds, while chemicals from velvet bean, rice bean and lab bean seeds exhibit good anti-oxidant activities which can be used in the management of diabetes.

Amoo described plant seed chemicals as those chemicals that can be extracted and isolated from plant seeds whose physiochemical and functional properties and other modifications determine their usefulness in chemical-related industries.

He said if the potential of the aforementioned is maximised in the building industry, it could prevent recurrent collapse of structures, and urged engineers to maximize the findings especially in the riverine areas.

He added that the potential of plant seed chemicals must be fully maximized as they are renewable, sustainable, biodegradable, cost effective and environmental friendly.

Related Articles