PZ Cussons, NOTAP partner to bridge chemical technology skills gap in industries

PZ Cussons Nigeria plc has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) to support research in chemical science and technology.

PZ Cussons’ intervention is borne out of its concern to fill the infrastructural gap in Nigerian research institutions. The intervention is targeted at assisting them acquire and install state-of-the-art equipment to facilitate the conduct of robust research activities that will produce high calibre research and development (R&D) personnel that are needed in industries.

Under the terms of the MoU, PZ Cussons will fund the upgrade of the chemical laboratories in two Nigerian universities and one research institute, while NOTAP will co-ordinate the project. The benefitting institutions include University of Calabar, Modibo Adama University of Technology, Yola, and the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria, a statement signed by Yomi Ifaturoti of PZ Cussons said.

PZ Cussons’ funding will focus on R&D activities, development of Ph.D holders that will be part of the institutions’ scholarship pool and forging viable research projects for students.

In his address at the occasion, Umar Bindir, director- general, NOTAP, said Nigeria could only develop if the bulk of research findings and papers lying in her research centres were put to use in solving problems.

According to him, it is through such collaborations that Nigeria will be able to ‘transform knowledge into socio economic solutions and assets that will bring about sustained national development.

Bindir thanked PZ Cussons for blazing the trail and called on other companies to emulate them.

In his response on behalf of the beneficiaries, Kyari Mohammed, vice-chancellor, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, expressed his happiness with industry-academia collaboration, while assuring PZ Cussons that the resources to be expended on the upgrade will be judiciously applied and put to utmost use.

The signing ceremony, which took place at PZ Cusson’s head office, was attended by the company’s management led by Christos Giannopoulos, CEO, along with representatives of the other two institutions and directors of NOTAP.

PZ Cussons Nigeria plc has been in the business of household goods manufacturing and at the forefront of promoting scholarship in chemical sciences. The company is the sponsor of the annual PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge that seeks to promote learning of chemistry in secondary schools.

ODINAKA ANUDU