Chemistry
Chemistry
Overview
Young by history, yet in the lead; demanding but caring; remarkably diverse in its people, its interests, it opportunities for personal and intellectual growth; the Department of Chemistry, Covenant University is a community of people who are inspired by the promise of possibility. And there are so many paths to fulfilling that promise at Covenant University. We are known far and wide as a powerhouse in Chemistry and its allied discipline, with major commitment to the new frontiers of Chemistry such as Medicinal, Nano, Computational, Combinational Physical, Inorganic, Environmental, Organic and Analytical Chemistry.
It is a pleasure and a privilege to be part of the Department of Chemistry, Covenant University family, to enjoy its world-class academic, research, student life and other facilities and most importantly, to work closely with its remarkable Faculty, staff and students, and with parents and friends. Whatever your reason for visiting, you are very welcome to the Department of Chemistry, Covenant University, Canaan Land, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
The importance of having a well functioning, vibrant and committed Faculty in our Department of Chemistry can hardly be overstated.
The Department metamorphosed from the Department of Applied Sciences which was established in 2004 / 2005 academic session. The Department of Applied Sciences offered the following programmes:
- B.Sc. Applied Chemistry
- B.Sc. Applied Mathematics and
- B.Sc. Applied Physics
Before the end of the session, the name of the Department was changed to the Department of Natural Sciences to include three additional programmes namely: B.Sc Biochemistry; B.Sc Biology and B.Sc Microbiology.
The applied was replaced with industrial to make the programmes more attractive to prospective students. In September of 2006/2007 session, the department of Natural Sciences was split into four Departments namely Departments of Biological Sciences offering B.Sc Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry programmes; Chemistry offering B.Sc Industrial Chemistry; Mathematics offering B.Sc. Industrial Mathematics and Physics offering B.Sc Industrial Physics.
VISION
The Department of Chemistry is to effectively impart our students’ modern Chemistry education targeted towards building a large, strong, diversified, sustainable and competitive economy, thereby guaranteeing the productivity and well being of the people.
MISSION
The Department of Chemistry aspires to eradicate poverty and restore the dignity of the black man by recognizing and developing competencies and knowledge; to encourage communication and innovative thinking and strengthen integrity through intensive Chemistry education.
Philosophy and Objectives
INTRODUCTION
The Department of Chemistry offers a 4-year Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Industrial Chemistry. The degree programme is designed to produce graduates with sound basic knowledge of Chemistry and its applications especially in industries. In particular the programme will generate in students an awareness of the tremendous role chemistry especially industrial or applied chemistry plays in the technological development of a nation. It will expose the students to the enormous resources of the raw materials, the chemical and related manufacturing industries in the country.
PHILOSOPHY
In line with Covenant University’s philosophy of departure from dogmatism to dynamism, the Department of Chemistry is grounded in an awareness of the rapidly changing tie between Chemistry and environment. Knowing this reality, students are prepared for practice of Chemistry using a perspective of on-going industrial strategies that are based on evidence. The Department of Chemistry believes that all individuals have inherent worth, dignity and are continually developing and adapting.
Learning is a life-long process which enables individuals to think critically in the appraisal and application of knowledge skills, and values as these relate to self, others, and the environment. The department is responsible for creating a learning environment that facilitates the acquisition of the necessary knowledge and skills for professional Chemistry practice.
OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of the Industrial Chemistry programme include the following:
a. To provide a sound chemistry knowledge and skills to enable the students understand and appreciate the chemical technology.
b. To impart to the students appropriate skills and abilities to handle chemical processes in chemical and allied industries and in the environment
c. To prepare the students for jobs in the growing chemical and allied manufacturing industries in the country.
d. To produce self-reliant graduates for self-employment in applied chemistry.
e. To prepare graduates for teaching and research work in applied chemistry in our higher institutions of learning in the country.
Research & Development
RESEARCH CLUSTERS AND ACCOMPLISHMENT
a. Medicinal Chemistry Group
- Prof. J. O. Echeme (Group Leader)
- Dr. O. M. Folarin (Member)
- Mr. J. A. O. Olugbuyiro (Member)
- Mr. Siyanbola T. O. (Member)
- Miss Aruwajoye I. O. (Member)
Organic/Medicinal Chemistry
Research Focus: Medicinal Chemistry is a multifaceted discipline that encompasses synthetic organic chemistry, natural products chemistry, enzymology, chemical biology, structural biology and computational methods, all of which are aimed at the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents. Medicinal chemistry is by nature an interdisciplinary science, and practitioners have a strong background in organic chemistry, coupled with a broad understanding of biological concepts related to cellular drug targets. Scientists in the field are well positioned to work as part of an interdisciplinary team that uses chemical structural principles to design effective drugs and diagnostic agents.
Relevance: The pharmaceutical industry continues to deal with challenges to improve productivity in getting new drugs to market. Industrialization of drug discovery greatly increased the capacity of companies to screen new compounds, thereby increasing the demand for lead-like compounds beyond the capacities of organic and medicinal chemistry departments to respond. The advent of combinatorial chemistry satisfied the demand for more compounds, but overall results in terms of productivity remained disappointing. Based on experience with combinatorial chemistry, pharmaceutical companies have evolved new strategies and methods for increasing the quality, and not just the quantity, of their compound libraries. Improvements have been made in downstream hit-to-lead and lead optimization as well.
b. Centre for Energy, Environment and Climate Change
| NAME | DEPARTMENT | AREA OF SPECIALISATION |
| Prof. JohnBull O. Echeme | Industrial Chemistry | Organic Chemistry |
| Dr. Benson Nsikak | Industrial Chemistry | Marine Environmental Chemistry |
| Dr. Uhuegbu Chidi | Industrial Physics | Solar Energy/Solid State Physics |
| Dr. Ede | Civil | Built Environment |
| Anthony Nkem | Engineering | Climate Change |
| Dr. Alile Owens | Industrial Physics | Geophysics |
| Mr. Anake Timothy | Industrial Mathematics | Computational Mathematics/Time Series Analysis |
| Dr. (Mrs.) Mabel Akinyemi | Industrial Physics | Atmospheric Physics |
| Dr. (Mrs.) Oluwatayo | Architecture | Built Environment |
| Dr. Omoregbe | Computer Science | |
| Engr. D. O. Omole | Civil | |
| Comrad A. Omonhinmin | Biological Sciences | Plant Science/Vegetation |
| Dr. Ajanaku Kolawole | Industrial Chemistry | Waste Management Public Health |
| Mr. Isaac Ayanda | Biological Sciences | Hydrobiology |
Focus
The center for energy, Environment and Climate Change in Covenant University, Ota assiduously aims to bridge the divide between the town and the gown-the principle that education should contribute to human well-being beyond the walls of the University. Toward this end, al CENEC researchers will participate in a wide range of activities to connect research and University teaching with public decision-making and community education. Beyond these research-driven outreach activities. Center for Energy, Environment and Climate Change is poised to designed and manage the Oyedepo Distinguished Lecture Series, a high-profile series of talks geared toward public engagement with current energy,, environment, and climate change issues. It will be funded by a generous donation from donors, international agencies, and in cooperation with the Special Climate Change Unit Federal Ministry of Environment, the Management Covenant University, and the College of Science and Technology. We look forward to welcoming a handful of National and International Leaders on Environmental Science, Engineering, Business, and Policy to the center, to deliver lectures. Each visit will be well advertised and duly promoted as a major event. To facilitate public attendance and engagement, lectures will be held at our African Development Center, followed by a reception to promote informal networking and discussion.
c. Environmental Chemistry Research Group (ENCREG)
| NAME | AREA OF SPECIALISATION | |
| Dr. Benson Nsikak | Marine Environmental Chemistry | nbenson@covenantuniversity.com |
| Dr. Ajanaku Kolawole | Waste Management | ajanakukolawole@gmail.com |
| Pst. Akan B. Willaims | Marine Environmental Chemistry/Toxicology | awilliams@covenantuniversity.com |
| Mrs. Winifred T. Anake | Environmental Chemistry | fopeace@yahoo.com |
| Mrs. Edobor-Osoh Abiola | Biophysical Chemistry | Kasali.abiola@yahoo.com |
| Miss Aruwajoye Ifedolapo O. | Natural Product Chemistry | d_olufunke@yahoo.com |
Goals
- Identification and budgeting of elemental fluxes.
- Documentation of short- and long-term variations of chemical variables.
- Modeling of marine ecosystems.
- Research projects and monitoring tasks to be highly interdisciplinary.
Staff & Personnel
Chemistry
AJANAKU, Kolawole Oluseyi
WILLIAMS, Akan
AJANI, Olayinka Oyewale
OLUGBUYIRO, Joseph
