In the light of the unstable crude oil price, the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSChE) has appealed to the Federal Government to concentrate on other sectors of the economy.
The group made the call at the NSChE’s first Public Lecture and the International Chemical Engineers (IChemE), United Kingdom, held at the University of Lagos, Akoka.
Speaking with reporters after the event, the association’s International Affairs Committee Chairman, Dr. John Erinne said the challenges confronting the nation was worrisome and required professional bodies to proffer solutions.
“We are talking about the challenges Nigeria is facing as regards the dwindling oil prices and oil returns and what value chemical engineers can provide to help Nigeria get out of this.
“There is no quick fix. The dwindling oil returns could be a blessing to this country as this will spur us decisively to move in the area of diversifying and reducing the reliance on oil as a source of revenue.
“Chemical engineering is not all about oil and gas. It is a broad profession in any area that involves transformation and processing of materials from one form to the other.
“We are all for the diversification of the economy and chemical engineers are at the forefront. We have a lot of skills to contribute towards improving agriculture and agricultural produce and solid minerals.
“We are very strongly committed to a Nigeria beyond oil and we are strongly urging the government to do all that is necessary to promote other sectors of the economy as well as stop the sole reliance on oil and gas,” erinwe said.
At the seminar were UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rahman Bello, Head, Department of Chemical Engineering, Prof. A.O. Denloye; the association’s deputy National President, Prof. Sam Adefila and guest lecturer, Neil Atkinson.
Atkinson, in his remarks said the importance of chemical engineers cannot be undermined especially when it comes to creating technical solutions for the society.
He said: “There are lots of major needs that we all need to address in terms of sustainable energy, water and food, which are all interconnected.
“The message is that chemical engineers need to develop and create solutions as technical people for the benefit of the society.
“Solutions like carbon capture and encouraging the move of bringing in new technologies like harnessing the power of sunlight to interact with energy to make fuels.
“We can’t step away from oil because hydrocarbons will remain a major player in the energy mix for the foreseeable future and we need technologies to transition from hydrocarbons overtime but that will take an enormous investment.”
