Odetoye canvasses homegrown technology-driven economy
A Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ilorin,Temitope Elizabeth Odetoye, has urged the Federal Government to be more intentional about developing a home-grown technology-driven economy.
Prof. Odetoye made this appeal last Thursday (April 4,2024) while delivering the 253rd Inaugural Lecture of the University, titled “Symphony of Biomass, Bioenergy and Bioproducts for Sustainability” at the University Auditorium.
The renowned academic, who holds two doctorate degrees, explained that the suggestion is particularly imperative in the area of biofuel production and waste management.
She noted that with the high turnout of biomass residues and solid wastes generated daily in Nigeria, the potential for biofuel production should be harnessed through the adoption of pyrolysis pilot plants, scale up and commercialisation.
Prof. Odetoye also called for the standardisation of waste management methods in a way that would include sorting from source to prepare feedstock.
She also advised that waste management team should work hand-in-hand with researchers to incorporate pyrolysis as part of the waste treatment technique which will involve the formulation of relevant policies including sorting of biomass and other wastes from the source.
Prof. Odetoye said that efforts should be intensified towards devising means of converting wastes to wealth and creating waste-collecting jobs for people and opportunities for skilled engineers and technicians.
She noted that this would surely make the nation’s physical environment to be cleaner and more sanitised as well as more conducive for habitation.
Prof. Odetoye also said that the proper management of waste would also reduce bush burning as she said that dried grass also has economic value.
She suggested that the private investors should work in partnership with researchers and take bold steps towards exploring the advantages associated with proper waste management.
The Inaugural Lecturer, who is the 21st Chairman of the Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also appealed to stakeholders to urgently review the nation’s current biofuel policy in a way that will make it suit the Nigerian environment and situations. She added that the government has to demonstrate strong political will in order to drive the biofuel policy to satisfaction.
Prof. Odetoye also suggested the establishment of the Biofuel Energy Commission under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in order to monitor the implementation of the biofuel policy from time to time and carry out necessary reviews as implementation progresses.
She equally suggested the establishment of the centres of excellence where pyrolysis and other biofuel technologies will be taken as the research focus towards developing the nation’s biofuel technology that will be suitable and sustainable with local materials that can be developed by Nigerian academics and researchers.
Prof. Odetoye,who is a former Chairman of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), also called for the sensitisation of researchers towards conduct proactive research for more realistic methods and utilisation of locally available feedstock for biofuel production. She said that the government should be ready to facilitate the funding of biofuel research.
She also canvassed for collaborative linkages among the academia, industry and policy makers in order to strengthen an effective technology-driven economy in Nigeria.