UNILAG's Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Marks 50 Years, Appeals for Immediate Support
CPE, UNILAG Marks Golden Jubilee, appealing for Support
Faith Orji 
The Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering (CPE) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has issued an urgent appeal for assistance as it prepares to commemorate its remarkable 50 years of existence. The department outlined pressing concerns, chiefly centering around a need for infrastructure improvement, as it describes the current state as inadequate. Furthermore, issues such as staff shortages, outdated equipment, low salaries, and the "Japa syndrome" were highlighted.
In addressing the department's challenges, the acting Head of the CPE, Faith Babalola, revealed that inadequate funding and prolonged neglect have taken a toll on its operations. The "Japa syndrome," which refers to the relocation of staff members without replacements, has significantly impeded the department's ability to function effectively. Furthermore, numerous pieces of aging equipment in the laboratories have remained unaddressed.
Babalola emphasized that over the last 15 years, ten lecturers have relocated without replacements, leaving essential academic positions unfilled. She also noted that the department has not appointed new staff members to replace retired lecturers, raising concerns about the sustainability of quality education and research.
Over the course of the past five decades, the department has achieved numerous milestones, graduating a substantial number of students in Chemical Engineering and Petroleum and Gas Engineering. UNILAG CPE has produced 2,169 Bachelor of Science (BSc) graduates in Chemical Engineering, 574 BSc graduates in Petroleum and Gas Engineering, 66 Postgraduate Diplomas (PGD) in Chemical Engineering, 242 Master of Professional Engineering (MPE) degrees in Chemical Engineering, 633 Master of Science (MSc) degrees in Chemical Engineering, and 38 Doctors of Philosophy (PhDs) in Chemical Engineering.
Babalola's plea extends to the government, urging them to allocate sufficient funding to education and uphold university autonomy to ensure institutions can attract top-tier talent and operate efficiently without external constraints.
She also called upon the department's alumni community, who have benefitted significantly from their education at UNILAG's CPE, to step up and support their academic "cradle" by committing to an annual endowment, ensuring that future Nigerian youths can access similar educational opportunities.
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The 50th-anniversary celebration, although a momentous occasion, serves as a sobering reminder of the pressing need for immediate intervention to revive and reinvigorate the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Lagos.
