By Abai Francis & Magdalene Agbadamashi
Dean of Faculty of Science, Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Prof. Samuel Ugbolue, has charged the Delta State Government to invest in chemical production to prevent importation and for the state to generate funds in order to be self-reliant.
He made the call during the Awokoya Memorial Chemistry Competition Award organised annually by the Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN) and sponsored by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation/Chevron Nigeria Limited (NNPC/CNL) Joint Venture in partnership with the Delta State Ministry of Education.
This year’s edition held at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Centre, Effurun, in Uvwie Local Government Area, at the weekend to celebrate the CSN Delta Chapter’s victory on emerging 2nd place at the National level, with Master Ate Ovie Great from NEPA Staff Secondary School, Sapele as the overall Delta Chapter winner.
According to Prof. Samuel, “Years ago, Delta state was one of the highest rubber producing state, but now rubber is everywhere but no one producing it.
“If we can go back to producing rubber and also improve our farming skills, investing in chemical production so as to stop the importation for foreign goods, I believe this state will be self-reliant.”
Meanwhile, Tony Emegere, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, PGPA, Superintendent, CNL, commended the efforts of CSN Delta Chapter in yielding positive results over the years.
In his words, “We are so happy that at the national level this chapter came 2nd and 3rd, not forgetting the 2017 edition in which we emerged 1st and 2nd. Though a bit back this year, we are still proud of this chapter.
“We feel so content knowing that the past winners over the years excelled and are excelling in the various institutions they enrolled in and this boost us to be more committed in education uplifting in this state, not forgetting our other scholarship programmes.”
Dr. Tina Isichei, Chairman, CSN Delta Chapter, while responding applauded Chevron for its continuous partnership, saying, “your sponsorship is one of the reasons we excel all these three decades” while also giving thanks to the Delta State Ministry of Education for their endless support during the competition.
Also speaking on the healthiness of competition, Dr E.P. Berezi, Chairman, National Award Committee, who represented the CSN President, Prof. Sunday Okeniyi, stated that, “Competitions are healthy for the development of any society. The CSN is one society that is very much involved at competitive measures hence we did it at state and then national level.”
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