By Abubakar Imam
A Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Rafiu Olasunkanmi Yusuf, has called for the introduction and sustenance of a mechanism that would ensure the enforcement of adequate and effective environmental regulation mechanisms.
Prof. Yusuf gave this advice last Thursday (July 17, 2025) while delivering the 286th Inaugural Lecture of the University, entitled “Waste Stream and Emissions Management for Sustainable Development” at the University Auditorium..
The Inaugural Lecturer said that it was high time that environmental regulation enforcement was strengthened to reduce the existing gaps in waste management and ensure emissions reduction practices, particularly in the industrial and energy sectors.
Prof. Yusuf also said that the government and the private sector should be encouraged to fund large-scale research projects, pilot studies, and the implementation of waste-to-energy technologies, pointing out that doing so will assist greatly in the field of Environmental Engineering, particularly in waste management, bioremediation, and emissions control.
He equally called for the provision of adequate Infrastructures so as to hasten the implementation of cutting-edge technologies, such as advanced bioremediation techniques or energy recovery systems, which often require substantial infrastructure and technical expertise.
The Inaugural Lecturer also called for sustainable solutions towards addressing environmental issues such as climate change and the negative impacts of waste and emissions.
He explained that with rising global temperatures, there is an increased urgency to find sustainable solutions, but the lack of coordination among various stakeholders and industries creates significant barriers to progress.
Prof. Yusuf, who has worked in a number of industrial outfits before joining the services of the University of Ilorin, also appealed to the government to intensify efforts in the several emerging trends and technological advances, which would present exciting opportunities for growth in the field of Environmental Engineering to help in the expansion of what he called “circular economy”.
He explained that the concept, which emphasises resource recovery, waste minimisation, and the creation of closed-loop systems, is much relatable to the ongoing works on energy and material recovery from solid waste.
He also called for advancement in waste-to-energy technologies so as to increase the immense potential for expanding energy recovery efforts. These technologies, according to Prof. Yusuf, include anaerobic digestion, gasification, and pyrolysis, which he explained would provide a sustainable way to manage waste while contributing to renewable energy generation.
The Inaugural Lecturer also called for the encouragement of the use of big data and machine learning as they present another interesting opportunity. By integrating data analytics with environmental monitoring, Prof. Yusuf said that we can improve the efficiency and accuracy of waste management systems.
He also said that predictive models can be used to forecast waste generation, optimise recycling processes, and predict the environmental impacts of various industrial activities.
Prof. Yusuf also called for innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. He explained that researches on methane and non-methane gaseous pollutants would assist researchers in a unique position to contribute to these efforts in order to reduce emissions and provide sustainable energy and material recovery solutions.
The Inaugural Lecturer specifically called on the Kwara State government to revisit the design carried out by CIWAT Engineers on the construction of an Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility for Ilorin with Gbagede chosen as the site for the proposed facility. He said that this will go a long way in reducing the reckless dumping of wastes all over the city as he said that the suggestion should be explored because of the increase in population with the attendant increase in the amount of waste generation.
Drawing from his personal experience, the don encouraged parents and guardians to encourage their children and wards to pursue their dreams for them to realise their full potentials.
Prof. Yusuf appealed to University teachers to take mentorship of their students more seriously, explaining that the role of the academic staff goes beyond teaching, research and community service but also entails mentorship.
The Inaugural Lecture, which was presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, was attended by Principal Officers, the Provost, Deans, relations, friends, colleagues and students of Prof. Yusuf from far and near.
Oloyede cautions varsities against indiscriminate honorary degrees
By Abubakar Imam
The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Emeritus Is’haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, CON, last Wednesday (July 16, 2025) criticised the authorities of some unnamed Nigerian universities for indiscriminate conferment of honourary doctorate degrees on people.
Prof. Oloyede, who was the eighth Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, made the observation while speaking at the Award of Excellence and investiture ceremony for Distinguished Alumni and Unilorin Ambassadors as part of the preliminary activities for the institution’s Golden Jubilee celebration coming up in November.
The JAMB Registrar, who was one of the honourees, commended the authorities of the University for standing out by doing things differently, saying that it is evidently clear that the University does not give out its honours indiscriminately.
“I was part of the team then, during my time as Vice Chancellor, that said that the University of Ilorin should not be part of the maddening crowd of awarding honorary degrees. You would see that the University of Ilorin would not just award degrees the way others do. I can’t remember any in the last 20 years, just because we want to be different,” Prof. Oloyede said.
The former Vice Chancellor, who is also the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), specifically commended the institution’s current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, for his innovative ideas.
He said, “Let’s commend the Vice Chancellor with the innovation of doing it differently with merit and dignity. I don’t know of any degree that you’ll give any of these distinguished people here that would make the kind of impact that we’ve made today. It’s a creative thinking to come up with this without going the way of indiscriminate honorary awards. Some people even send their drivers to represent them to pick up the awards, just because it has become worthless.
“We thank the University for this idea. And from us, we say this is a big honour and we pledge to continue to serve this university, this nation and humanity at large,” he said.
