Sustainable Development: The Role of Chemical Technology in the Industrialization of Nigeria
Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa (Volume 12, No.7, 2010) ISSN: 1520-5509 Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, Pennsylvania
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THE ROLE OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY IN THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF NIGERIA
E. M. Okonkwo, O. J. Okunola and C. S. Ezeanyanaso National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Basawa, Zaria, Nigeria
ABSTRACT Like any nation in the world, the challenges facing the sustainability of technological advancement of chemical industry in Nigeria today are re-inventing the use of materials. To address this challenge, chemistry is actually central to many of the environmental and resource use issues at the heart of sustainable development. Also, collaboration from an interdisciplinary group of stakeholders will be necessary. An emerging approach to this challenge seeks to embed the diverse set of environmental perspectives and interests in the everyday practice of the people most responsible for using and creating new materials—chemists. The approach, which has come to be known as Green Chemistry, intends to eliminate the intrinsic hazard itself, rather than focusing on reducing risk by minimizing exposure. This addresses the stake of chemists, stakeholders, and policymakers in everyday practices that are re-inventing chemistry and its material inputs, products, and wastes in a developing economy, otherwise known as Nigeria. Keywords: Sustainability; Chemical; Technology; Nigeria
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Brundland Commission (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987) defined sustainable development as the process in which the exploitation of natural resources, the allocation of investments, and the process of technological development and organizational change are in harmony with each other for both current and future generations.
Based on this context, “sustainability” is a path forward that allows humanity to meet current environmental and human health, economic, and societal needs
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THE ROLE OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY IN THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF NIGERIA
E. M. Okonkwo, O. J. Okunola and C. S. Ezeanyanaso National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Basawa, Zaria, Nigeria
ABSTRACT Like any nation in the world, the challenges facing the sustainability of technological advancement of chemical industry in Nigeria today are re-inventing the use of materials. To address this challenge, chemistry is actually central to many of the environmental and resource use issues at the heart of sustainable development. Also, collaboration from an interdisciplinary group of stakeholders will be necessary. An emerging approach to this challenge seeks to embed the diverse set of environmental perspectives and interests in the everyday practice of the people most responsible for using and creating new materials—chemists. The approach, which has come to be known as Green Chemistry, intends to eliminate the intrinsic hazard itself, rather than focusing on reducing risk by minimizing exposure. This addresses the stake of chemists, stakeholders, and policymakers in everyday practices that are re-inventing chemistry and its material inputs, products, and wastes in a developing economy, otherwise known as Nigeria. Keywords: Sustainability; Chemical; Technology; Nigeria
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Brundland Commission (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987) defined sustainable development as the process in which the exploitation of natural resources, the allocation of investments, and the process of technological development and organizational change are in harmony with each other for both current and future generations.
Based on this context, “sustainability” is a path forward that allows humanity to meet current environmental and human health, economic, and societal needs
References: Anastas, P. T. & Warner, J. C. (1998). Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice. New York: Oxford University Press. Graedel, T. E. & Allenby, B. R. (1995). Industrial Ecology. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Hazel, R.W., Farthing, T.G.R., Grundy, C.L., Lohmann, D.H., McHattie, G.V., Sanderson, D.M., Whitehead, P., Wilson, H.G.E., & Wrightson, I. (2000). Environmental, Health and Safety Committee (EHSC) note on Sustainable 145 Development and the Professional Chemist. Retrieved from: http://www.rsc.org./lap/rsccom/ehscnotes.htm on June 6, 2010. National Research Council. (1999). Our Common Journey: A Transition Toward Sustainability. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Nigeria Energy Commission website. Pietro, T., Anastas, P.T., Black, D.S., Breen, J., Collins, T., Memoli, S., Miyamoto, J., Polyakoff, M., & Tumas, W. (2000). Synthetic Pathways and Processes in Green Chemistry: Introductory Overview. Pure Applied Chemistry. 72(7), 1207–1228. Sustainable Public Transport Systems – Alternative Energy News. April 2010. The Vanguard Newspaper. Jan 26, 2009. Challenges and benefit of “going green in Nigeria”. The Vanguard Newspaper. Jan 28, 2008. Challenges and benefit of “going green in Nigeria”. World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED). (1987). Our Common Future (The “Brundtland” Report). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: E. M. Okonkwo is the Director General/CEO of National Research Institute of Chemical Technology (NARICT) Nigeria. O. J. Okunola is a research officer in petrochemical/polymer division of National Research Institute of Chemical Technology (NARICT) Nigeria. C. S. Ezeanyanaso Okunola is a research officer in petrochemical/polymer division of National Research Institute of Chemical Technology (NARICT) Nigeria. 146