FUNAAB Chemistry Department Hosts One-Day Lecture on “Cross-Border Chemistry”

The Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) held a One-Day Lecture on 20th November 2025, themed “Cross-Border Chemistry”, aimed at strengthening academic collaboration with Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.

In his Opening Address, Prof. Victor Makinde, Dean of the College of Physical Sciences (COLPHYS), welcomed participants and described the lecture as a milestone in FUNAAB’s history. He highlighted the event as a symbol of a deepening partnership between FUNAAB and Nelson Mandela University, stressing the importance of mutually beneficial academic collaborations.

Prof. Makinde also conveyed the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde’s goodwill message, appreciating the presence of the guest speaker Dr. Adeniyi Ogunlaja, Head of the Department of Chemistry, Nelson Mandela University, and his brother, Prof. Olumiyiwa Ogunlaja of Bowen University, Iwo.

Delivering the lecture titled “Beyond Rare and Precious: Are Base Metals the Sustainable Future of Catalysis and Medicine?”, Dr. Ogunlaja discussed the challenges posed by the high cost and scarcity of precious metals and highlighted base metals as affordable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly alternatives for catalytic processes and therapeutic applications.

He shared current research demonstrating the effectiveness of base metals and encouraged postgraduate students to enhance their work with computational studies and meticulous laboratory techniques, including proper use of the black-dot reference in TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy).

The lecture drew distinguished scholars and administrators, including:

• Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Oluyemisi Eromosele
• Rector, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Prof. Akinola Akinlabi
• Director, Institute for Human Resources Development (INHURD), Prof. Sheriff Adewuyi
• Head, Department of Chemistry, Prof. Abideen Adeogun
• Head, Quality Control and Assurance Unit, Prof. Saliu Amolegbe
• Head, Department of Geology, Prof. James Oguntuase

The event reinforced cross-border academic collaboration and underscored the university’s commitment to sustainable scientific research and global partnerships.