Budding

Sc ent st

Grooming Successors in Science, Mathematics and Engineering

Free

tion
Distribu

Nigerian Professor
Births New Mathematics
My First Encounter
with Science

My Motivation for
Becoming an Engineer

- Prof. Adikwu, VC Uniabuja

- Dr. Bindir, DG NOTAP

There is always an opportunity to break new grounds

- Engr. Offor

Department of Technology & Science Education,

Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja.

e
r
e
h

Editorial

Grooming Successors
in Science, Mathematics
and Engineering
Chigozie Ubani

CONTENTS
There is always an opportunity
to break new grounds

Page 4

Must I be a Genius to Study Science? Page 6

My First Encounter with Science

Page 7

How important is stating a

Scientific Problem?

Page 9

Nigerian Professor Births New

Mathematics

Page 10

Chemistry and John Dalton

Page 12

A Peep into the Life and Works of

Late Emeritus Professor Chike Obi Page 13
Global Learning and Observations
to Benefit the Environment
(GLOBE)

Page 17

My Motivation for becoming

an Engineer

Page 18

All correspondence be addressed to the Editor,

The Budding Scientist or Chairman,
Global Science Development Initiatives.
Suit 12, AP Plaza, Opposite Transcorp Hilton,
Maitama Abuja.
Tel: 08064383985, 08032546773
Email: gsdinitiatives@gmail.com;
chigozieubani@yahoo.com

s the cycle of life unfolds with plants dropping

off their leaves during winter, insects shedding
off their outer cuticular layer to give way for
new ones, and other animals, giving birth to their young
so is the immutable process that buffers distortion in
the ecosystem. Also, anyone familiar with what happens
when a piece of land is cleared will invariably appreciate
this natural process. When a piece of forest is cleared and
left alone, plants slowly reclaim such area (confirming
that nature abhors vacuum). Over time, signs of the
clearing disappear and the land becomes forest again.
These analogies aptly summarize the word succession,
which is, the replacement of one organism by another.
Every organism goes extinct when there are no
successors! Successors are the link between the past and
future, and without them, the traits, qualities and
peculiarities of the deceased are not carried along.
Without them, also, the works of their predecessors are
not built upon, and are left to the winds.
One may ask: what have all these talks on succession got
to do with science, mathematics and engineering? The
truth remains that our nation (Nigeria) is blessed with
some of the finest scientists, mathematicians and
engineers the world has ever had (although they are yet
to win Nobel Prizes in science). Most of these renowned
scientists are spread across some of our higher
institutions and are fast aging and would soon retire.
Some have also retired and some are dead. Worse still,
most of these egg-heads failed to replicate themselves. In
fact, someone told us that most renowned scientists in
Nigeria are wicked and would not want others to take
their place, even when they are no more. But how true
can this be? On a contrary note, one great Nigerian
scientist happily communicated: I have produced three
good professors (scientists) that can take my place when
I am finally gone.
Be that as it may, the truth remains that most of our great
Nigerian scientists are aging and would soon hit the
retirement age. Yet, most of these men have not
Cont. on page 5

The Budding Scientist

January - April 2015

Page 03

Interview

There is always an opportunity

to break new grounds
Introduction
Engr. Michael Kalu Ofor, a graduate of
Chemical Engineering from the Higher
Institute of Chemical Technology, Bourgas
(Bulgaria) and a registered engineer with the
Nigerian Society of Engineers, was, until
November 2014, the Director, Department of
Technology and Science Education, at the
Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja. He
had this chat April 2014 with The Budding
Scientist's editor, Chigozie Ubani.
Excerpts:

On his deviation from medicine to engineering

On what it was while growing up as a science

student

t was quite interesting being a science student. In my

time, the popular opinion among parents was that
either you are the mother or father of a doctor,
engineer or lawyer. So, every student had role models in
these areas. For me, my role model and mentor was my
maternal uncle, late Dr. Ariwodo Kalunta, the renowned
psychiatrist and the first in Eastern Nigeria (and second in
Nigeria after the Legendry Professor Thomas Adeoye
Lambo), who came back to Nigeria in 1953 (a year before
I was born) after an eventful study in the UK. At this time,
my uncle was the only cock that crows in my community
and beyond and every young person wanted to be like
him. This made science the in-thing for me and medicine,
my choice of career. It was based on this motivation that
after I finished my secondary school education in
Methodist College Uzuakoli (meanwhile, I have been
awarded Distinguished Old Boy of the college), that I
quickly went for advance studies in St. Patrick's College
Asaba (Delta State) for Higher School Certificate. The
latter I did majorly on chemistry, physics and biology.

The Budding Scientist

Engr. Michael Kalu Ofor

After my 'A' level, it was difficult getting admission in

medicine in any of the Nigerian universities. Medicine at
the time (and even now) was very competitive and I was
always not on its admission merit list. This was indeed
discouraging, but unknown to me, God was preparing me
for something different. It was in 1977, the then military
head of state, General Olusegun Obasanjo, instituted a
Bilateral Agreement with the Eastern European countries:
Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and others. I applied and
got Federal Government Scholarship to study Chemical
Engineering at the Higher Institute of Chemical
Technology, Bourgas (Bulgaria). Then you need not to
know anybody to obtain anything in Nigeria as there was
sanity, honesty and patriotism in the country.
On the challenges he encountered while studying in a
foreign country
In every good thing, there has to be a dint of hard work.
This, notwithstanding, I encountered some challenges. I
studied chemistry, physics and biology at 'A' level. Of
course that was the requirement for medicine. But
mathematics (which I did not do at A level) is very crucial

January - April 2015

Page 04

Interview

In my time, the popular opinion

among parents was that either you are
the mother or father of a doctor, engineer
or lawyer. So, every student had role
models in these areas. For me, my role
model and mentor was my maternal
uncle, late Dr. Ariwodo Kalunta, the
renowned psychiatrist and the first in
Eastern Nigeria (and second in Nigeria
after the Legendry Professor Thomas
Adeoye Lambo), who came back to
Nigeria in 1953 (a year before I was
born) after an eventful study in the UK.
At this time, my uncle was the only cock
that crows in my community and beyond
and every young person wanted to be like
him. This made science the in-thing for
me and medicine, my choice of career.

in engineering, and if not for my good understanding of

the subject in secondary school, I would have found it
difficult studying engineering. Being taught in a foreign
language (other than English) was also another challenge.
Thanks to the Bulgarian Government! They simplified
their language programme in such a manner that strangers
can easily read and write in their language within nine
months. This was so simple that even a goat can become
literate in their language. Another difficult experience I
had was culture shock. Coming from a society of
different culture and ideals, it was really difficult
adjusting to the new environment.
On how he surmounted the challenges
Although the Bulgarian language was highly simplified, I
also employed other strategies to get along easily with the
language. One of these is my insistence not to be paired in
the same room with any Nigerian student. My request

Continued on page 15

Continued from page 3

replicated themselves. Just as our ecosystem will

continually exist, so will our research institutes and
other institutions of higher learning. What happens
when these scientists are no more? Who steps into
their shoes? Even if others take their place, how
competent are those that succeed them?
Bridging this gap therefore forms the objective of
The Budding Scientist Grooming Successors in
Science, Mathematics and Engineering. This
quarterly publication will be offering mentoring
services to youths interested in science, mathematics
and engineering. We will be bringing views from
world-best scientists on how greatness can be
achieved in every aspect of science. We shall also be
making our content more homely by bringing to your
knowledge, information on most of our great
Nigerian scientists and their striking contributions.
These and more, we hope, will make our effort more
impactful.
Imparting the lives and careers of future generations
of scientists therefore constitutes one of the
objectives of this publication, and this is never
achieved by one organization. More so, no landmark
project in science has ever been done without
collaboration. It is the synergy that drives science in
all climes! Even great scientists, who are often being
lauded for their individual contributions, did that, not

The Budding Scientist

without collaboration. It is with this understanding

that the Department of Technology and Science
Education in the Federal Ministry of Education
(Abuja), has weighed-in in support of this
publication.
We should also not forget that no superstructure
stands on a faulty foundation. As such, we shall be
concentrating our efforts, for now, on secondary
schools, before fanning out to tertiary institutions. It
also does not mean that students of tertiary
institutions will not benefit as well (it might even be
more useful to them than those in secondary
schools).
This maiden edition, therefore, is a test-run on how
far our efforts can lead us (at least, it is no longer in
the list of ideas which we had, but never executed).
We are still in the process of rolling out befitting
packages that will make our brand a must-read for
every budding scientist. Meanwhile, if you have
ideas or suggestions on how to enrich this brand,
please do not hesitate to call me on 08064383985 or
send email to chigozieubani@yahoo.com
CHIGOZIE UBANI
Editor, The Budding Scientist
And Chairman, Global Science Development Initiatives

January - April 2015

Page 05

Young People Ask

Must I be a Genius to Study Science?

By Isaac Nwaedozie M.

eaching integrated science to a class of young

people, a teacher posed the question: How many
of you would like to be scientists in future? Some
students raised their hands in the affirmative, while others
did not. Appalled by this response, the teacher began
asking why most of his students do not want to major in
science. To his disappointment, many of the students
claimed they were not intelligent enough to do science.
These students felt science should not be for them, but for
the intellectually gifted. But how true are they? Is science
difficult? Or does one require an unusual brain structure
to participate in science?
A look at the lives and works of many great scientists has
shown that one does not need exceptional intelligence to
study science! And if you must know, Albert Einstein, one
of the finest of science, was expelled from school by a
headmaster with a letter proclaiming him unlikely to
amount to anything. Even Sir Isaac Newton, as a
schoolboy, showed no exceptional brilliance. There is no
record anywhere showing he graduated with honours
from Cambridge. Also not different was Louis Pasteur
one of the founders of microbiology. He was a very poor
student. Is it Gregor Johann Mendel? The Austrian monk
and biologist whose work on hereditary became the basis
for the modern theory of genetics. He was, at a time,
proclaimed lacking insight and the requisite clarity for
knowledge. Or do we talk of our own late Emeritus
Professor Chike Obi? He was also very poor in
mathematics and at a time, threatened with dismissal. Yet,
all these people, even in death, conjure one kind of aura or
the other in science. What then is the common thread in
their success?
Deciding to major in science makes the job of becoming a
scientist half-done. Ambition is a principal thing, and it is
what drives men to their great accomplishments.
Although one may be driven by ambition, two other
ingredients are equally important: hard work and
creativity. The former needs no introduction, but the latter
(creativity), I may have to say something.
The use of imagination to bring out something new and
exciting is creativity. It is that ability to look at an older
question, idea or invention from a different perspective.
This is an important distinguishing factor in the lives of
many great scientists. For example, Lord Ernest
Rutherford, known for his epochal contributions in the
investigation of the structure of the atom, looked at the
The Budding Scientist

heliocentric theory (i.e. the theory that says the sun is the
centre of the universe and the planets revolving round it)
and deduced his heliocentric or planetary model of atom.
Newton looked at Galileo's telescope and came up with
his reflecting telescope. The same Newton, having looked
at the works of others on gravity, introduced a
mathematical definition to gravity called the Universal
Law of Gravitation. Charles Darwin read the work of
English economist and demographer, Thomas Malthus,
and introduced the theory of natural selection. Even the
Wright brothers, the two bicycle sellers and repairers that
flew the first controlled flight in human history, studied
the flights of others before coming out with controlled
flight.
There is nothing new under the sun! And everything you
see today, originated from something already in
existence. Biotechnology is today booming, but this has
been in existence from time immemorial. Is it
vaccination? The Yorubas have been doing it even before
Edward Jenner discovered it. Or is there anything Newton
said about gravity that our people did not say? (Check
your native proverbs.) What one needs most in science is
common sense that ability to combine native
intelligence with scientific training. Little wonder,
Galileo Galilee, the first modern scientist said, I am not
obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us
with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo
their use. In other words, every individual is endowed
with natural intelligence and as such, capable of making
enduring contributions to science. Therefore, you are as
good as every other person that has made it in science.

January - April 2015

Page 06

Mentors Experience

My First Encounter with Science

By Professor Michael Umale Adikwu
Professor Michael Adikwu is a renowned
Professor of Pharmaceutics at the University of
Nigeria, Nsukka. He is currently the Vice
Chancellor of the University of Abuja. Adikwu is
a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science,
Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and
Honourary Fellow of the Science Teachers
Association of Nigeria (STAN). He is also the
President of the Nanomedicine Society of
Nigeria, and was in 2006, the recipient of the
Nigeria Prize for Science (Nigeria's Nobel Prize
in science). Professor Adikwu gave this article
August 2012 while serving as the National
Project Coordinator of the World Bank STEP-B
Project and later updated it January 20 2015.

y first encounter with science was simply the

environment while my lifelong mentors have
been my primary school teachers. I enjoyed
going to farm and fishing, as all these brought me closer to
nature. My parents would warn me not to go fishing when
the local streams have overflowed their banks, but I
would steal away to go for fishing. At school, I copied
everything about my teachers. My handwriting today
derives completely from those of my primary school
teachers. My first impression about myself was that of a
precocious student who kept posting impressive records
in his academic pursuits. Watching those early beginnings
thus brought home the truism that morning tells the day,
for my personality was suffused with the building blocks
of success hard work and determination. Having come
from a very humble background, I knew I had to succeed;
otherwise, I would perish. I hated dependence on relatives
and any other person. That is still affecting my personality
today.

interview, after I won the Nigeria Prize for Science, I

revealed that the seed of my scientific inquiries was sown
by my keen observation of my natural environment. This
ideal locale, which offered me the opportunity to observe
nature at its pristine state, must have provided the
motivation for my subsequent progression into the
pharmaceutical sciences. It is not surprising that the
common thread of my scientific research has been a
combination of this native intelligence with scientific
acumen of utilizing local materials for pharmaceutical
experiments in order to harness them for indigenous
remedies and at the same time, produce raw materials for
the pharmaceutical industry.
As a teacher and researcher, I think, I have been a success
story. In the academic front, I have trained a generation of
manpower for the pharmaceutical industry and the health

It is not surprising, therefore, that I went ahead to acquire

my bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in good
time. My decision to go into academics in the face of
many career options was borne out of my desire to
disseminate knowledge, pursue my love for research, and
contribute my quota to the corpus of scientific
knowledge.
My foray into the sciences was not fortuitous. In one
The Budding Scientist

January - April 2015

Page 07

sector in general. Two of my students are already full

professors of pharmacy. A third would have joined now if
not for hitches that made his papers not to return. My
resume includes a list of academic papers showing my
research findings and published in leading journals across
the globe. In recognition of my works, especially the one
on the wound healing properties of mucins extracted from
snail, I won Nigeria's top science prize the Nigerian
Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Prize for Science in 2006.
I also won the May and Baker/The Pharmaceutical
Society of Nigeria Prize for Excellence in the Practice of
Pharmacy in 2009.
I have also done works of great social significance. My
research into the detection of fake and counterfeit drugs, a
modern day nightmare in the Nigerian health sector, has
found practical application in curbing the scourge. I have,
in addition, helped many start-up and existing companies
in the pharmaceutical sector to write feasibility studies
and business plans, as well as helping them meet
regulatory compliance and ethical standards.
My driving philosophy in life is to overcome challenges.
One of my heroes of science is the popular American
inventor of the polio vaccine Jonas Salk. I therefore
adopt one of his favorite quotes that anything worthy of
change constitutes a challenge, and this may best
summarize the source of my prodigious intellectual
energy. Like those scientists of old, I am driven by the
passion to harness the potentials of science to serve
humanity.
I have visited some overseas laboratories as an Alexander
von Humboldt Fellow in Germany (1999-2000) and a
Matsumae Fellow in Japan (2002). I was also, more
recently, awarded a Royal Society International Short
Visit Grant to the University of Manchester (2006). In
June 2007, I was awarded a Travel Fellowship for a
Global Technological Evaluation and Development
Conference which held in Arusha, Tanzania (June 3-7,
2007). I have also won several other fellowships, some of
which I did not utilize. These include Third World
Academy of Sciences South-South Fellowship to
Cameroon (1996), and the Third World Associate
Fellowship to Argentina (2000). In the area of
international grants, I have won research grants from the
Royal Society of Chemistry of Great Britain (2002),
Third World Academy of Sciences (2004) and the
International Foundation for Science, Sweden (2004 and
2006).
I was the National Coordinator for Science and
Technology Education Post-Basic (STEP-B) Project.
Under this project, 11 centres in the teaching and learning
of Science and Technology were set up. The National
Strategy for these Centres of Excellence based on
national needs was developed, through my efforts, with
the support of the Federal Ministry of Education and the
World Bank. The Project also supported other 195
institutions carrying out 220 other sub-projects. I have
also, recently, developed other national strategy
The Budding Scientist

documents on reversing the fallen standards in education

through post-doctoral arrangement and increasing access
to university education through public partnership
arrangements.
The following are the Centres of Excellence:
1. Centre for Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases. This
centre is located at the University of Calabar and is
researching into the various forms of nosochomial
infections.
2. Centre for Biotechnology and Genetic
Engineering. This is located at the Federal
University of Technology, Minna. Its focus is on
development of vaccine for tropical diseases.
3. Centre for Environmental Protection and
Preservation. This centre is emphasising on the barcoding of medicinal plants for drug use.
4. Centre for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
Technology. This also includes advanced materials
for nanotechnology.
5. Centre for Food Security Studies. This centre is
looking at some common Nigerian food crops for
enhanced production through genetic
modifications and other biotechnology practices.
6. Centre for Chemical Research and Technology.
They are researching into the production of
fertilizers for farmers.
7. Centre for Renewable Energy. This centre is
focusing on wind and solar forms of energy.
8. Centre for Technical Vocational Education and
Training. This centre is focused on the training of
technical teachers for our technical education
system.
9. Centre for Software Engineering. This centre is
focusing its study on the production of computer
software for the nation.
10. Centre for Solid Minerals Research and
Development. The centre hopes to reduce the
dependence on the oil sector, as Nigeria is rich in
solid minerals.
11. Centre for Multimedia Technology and
Cinematography. This centre is to research into,
and further develop the Nigerian film industry.
Apart from these areas, other funded projects have
resulted into new drugs for diabetes treatment (National
Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development,
Abuja); anti-cancer agents of plant origin (University of
Lagos), and Gold Nanoparticles synthesized from
bacteria for cancer chemotherapy (African University of
Science and Technology, and Sheda Science and
Technology Complex, both in Abuja). Apart from these
results, the Science and Technology Education PostBasic Project was rated the most successful in the history
of Nigeria's education sector and won prizes for
transparency and accountability.
I am currently the Vice Chancellor of the University of
Abuja.

January - April 2015

Page 08

Learning from a Mentor

How Important is Stating

a Scientific Problem?
What is that? and How does it work? are common
questions of children. This child-like curiosity is a
driving force to science. Although curiosity may have
killed the rat, it gives life to science! Without it, many
scientific enquiries would have been stalled and long
forgotten.
Scientists have strong curiosities, and they are always
asking questions about nature. While finding answers to
these questions may be difficult, scientists are also aware
that it is even more difficult asking the right questions
than solving a problem. Let me explain further with this
example. A certain Professor of Mathematics succeeded
in solving an age-long mathematical problem and
needed to communicate his efforts to his students. He
scheduled a five-day seminar (two hours per day) with
his students. The Professor began the first day stating and

defining the problem, and continued in this direction even

to the end of the fourth day. With only a day left, his students
began to wonder: If it took Prof four days only to state a
problem, how long will it take him to solve it?
Surprisingly, the Professor, on the fifth day, only spent 30
minutes in solving the problem. (Meanwhile, do not be
intimidated by this Professor or by his mathematical
problem. Scientific problems come in all sizes, and there is
always a problem for every ability no matter how
intellectually handicapped you are.)
In support of the above, Albert Einstein, Times Magazine
th
scientist of the 20 century said: The formulation of a
problem is often more essential than its solution, which may
be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill.
To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old
problem from a new angle, requires certain imagination
and marks real advance in science.
In other words, when a problem is properly stated and
defined, its solution will emerge! And before any scientist
attempts solving a problem, he or she must clearly state and
define the problem. This is of great importance to science.
Our next edition will be giving tips on how to state and
clearly define a scientific problem.

Lessons to be learned from Adikwu

Your teachers are your first role models. And teachers, to a
very large extent, make their students. In other words, what
the student becomes is dependent on who taught him. In the
case of Professor Adikwu, he learnt and copied so much from
his teachers. In his words, At school, I copied everything
about my teachers. My handwriting today derives
completely from those of my primary school teachers. This
is an evidence of much he learnt and copied from his
teachers.
Interest in your natural environment determines how far
you go in science. This is what helped the Greeks in making
outstanding contributions to science. You cannot observe
nature if you do not have interest in it! Professor Adikwu
revealed that the seed of his scientific inquiries was sown by
his keen observation of his natural environment. This is also
what offered him the opportunity of observing nature in its
pristine way and at the same time, motivated him in going
into the pharmaceutical sciences. In fact, the entirety of
Adikwu's work is based on a combination of native
intelligence and scientific skill of utilizing local materials for
pharmaceutical experiments so as to produce indigenous
remedies and raw materials for the pharmaceutical
industries. Little wonder one of his most significant
contributions to science is his discovery of the wound-

The Budding Scientist

healing properties of mucins extracted from snail.

What you do today as a student, determines what becomes
of you in future. As some people say, Morning tells the day.
Your today's habit, determines your future habitat. Your
attitude also determines your altitude.
Your determination to succeed is a very important factor in
your journey of life. Of course, when you are determined, you
will definitely work hard. Coming from a humble background,
Professor Adikwu knew from time that if he did not succeed,
he would perish. In his words, My personality was suffused
with the building block of success hard work and
determination.
Your passion to serve humanity also determines how well
you do in science. Science is for the service of humanity, and
every scientist is driven by the passion to harness to the
potentials of science to serve humanity. Also, serving
humanity entails overcoming some challenges. If you are not
passionate about these challenges, you may never make a
striking contribution to science. This is what led to the success
of Jonah Salk, Alexander Fleming, Louis Pasteur, Edward
Jenner and many others.

January - April 2015

Page 09

Discovery News

Nigerian Professor Births

New Mathematics
By Chigozie Ubani

th

revolution and this also flourished from the early 20

eometry, the scientific doctrine of space, is the
century to date. It was not exactly Euclidian (i.e. Pseudobeginning and foundation of all physics.
Euclidian), and is based on the assumption that the speed
Without it, Architecture and machine
of light is finite. These geometries (Euclidian and
construction would not have been. But this aspect of
Pseudo-Euclidian geometry) have failed to account for
mathematics is a creation of antiquity. It was developed
all natural phenomena (especially in the area of
by the Greeks who borrowed their first notion from the
elementary particle physics), thereby creating a window
Egyptian surveying technique and the occult lore of
for yet another type of
Asiatic priest. And
within the late period of Discrete Geometry (or quantum geometry.
Greek culture, a world- mathematics) is therefore the new
famous university grew mathematics! This is the latest contribution D i s c r e t e G e o m e t r y ( o r
quantum mathematics) is
up in Alexandria. Here,
of Professor Amagh Nduka of the Federal t h e r e f o r e t h e n e w
a great scholar, Euclid,
University of Technology, Owerri, and has mathematics! This is the latest
compiled the
contribution of Professor
geometrical knowledge been applied in solving elementary particles Amagh Nduka of the Federal
of his time and made problems including that of the neutrino University of Technology,
important additions to it, mass (one of the most controversial in Owerri, and has been applied in
solving elementary particles
a n d e v e r s i n c e , particle physics).
problems including that of
Euclidian geometry has
the neutrino mass (one of the
been a reliable guide to
most
controversial
in
particle
physics).
human thought.
But times have changed, and science has become ever
increasingly dynamic. The question is: how relevant is
Euclidean Geometry?
Every physical problem requires a different kind of
mathematics! In other words, there is a particular
mathematics for every physical problem, and if you use
an unsuitable mathematics for it, your entire efforts may
be in futility. Of course, it will be a total failure solving a
problem that requires simultaneous equation with
differentiation. It is not that differentiation is a bad
mathematics; rather, it is only not suitable for the problem
in question. So it is with all physical problems. For
example, in giving a mathematical definition to gravity
(Universal Law of Gravitation), Newton had to invent the
calculus, as the available mathematics at the time was
unsuitable for it. This is one reason why previous workers
in this area failed. In fact, the entirety of Newton's work
marked the first (or Newtonian) revolution in science,
th
and it flourished from late 17 century to date. It is also
based on Euclidean geometry and the assumption that the
speed of light is infinite. Science was also to witness yet
another revolution called the second (or Einstenian)

The Budding Scientist

Come to think of it, who is Professor Amagh Nduka?

Professor Nduka hails from Amankalu, Igbere, in Bende
Local Government Area of Abia State. He attended
Igbere Primary School and Hope Waddle Training
Institution (Calabar) for his primary and secondary
school education respectively. And through an American
scholarship, proceeded to the Western world, where he
obtained Bachelor of Science degree (University of
California, Berkerly, 1965); Masters of Science (Stanford
University, 1967), and Doctorate degree in physics, under

January - April 2015

Page 10

Discovery News

While commenting on his

contributions to science, he said, If I
were to be in the US, with all these
things I'm doing here in Nigeria
(referring to his works), I would have
won three Nobel Prizes in Science .
the supervision of Physics Nobel Laureate Professor
Subramanyan Chandrasekhar (University of Chicago,
1971).
Professor Nduka, who could not stand the colour
discrimination in the West, against the wish of his
teachers and colleagues, returned to Nigeria in 1974. He
joined the services of the University of Ife as a Senior
Lecturer in Physics (1974-81) before transferring to the
Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) as the
Pioneer Professor in the Department of Physics and
Mathematics. Some of his career experiences are
summarized: Research Scientist, U.S. Atomic Energy
Commission, the Enrico Fermi Institute, Batavbia III
USA (1970-71); Visiting Assistant Professor of
Mathematics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
USA (1971-74); Senior Lecturer in Physics, University of
Ife (1974-81); Professor of Theoretical Physics and
Applied Mathematics, Federal University of Technology,
Owerri (1981-date); Visiting Senior Scientist, University
of California, Berkley (1983); Visiting Senior Scientist,
California Institute of Technology, Pasedena, California
(1983); Visiting Senior Scientist, University of Chicago,
Chicago III (1983); Visiting Senior Scientist,
International Centre of Theoretical Physics, Triester, Italy
(1982-83); Visiting Senior Scientist, Columbia
University, New York (1985); Visiting Senior Scientist,
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
(1985); Senior Traveling Fellow, Association of
Commonwealth Universities (1985), and a host of others.
A former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of
Technology, Owerri (1987-91), Professor Nduka holds
two professorships one in Theoretical Physics and
another in Applied Mathematics. He is a Fellow of the
Nigerian Institute of Physics (1986), as well as a member
(emeritus) of the American Mathematical Society (AMS)
and the American Physical Society (APS). He has
published in leading journals in Theoretical Physics and
Applied Mathematics. In fact, two of his works published
in Applied Mathematics (The Geometrical Theory of
Science, November 2012 and The Neutrino Mass,
February 2013) earned him the Google Scholar of the year
for 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Apart from the new mathematics (discrete geometry),
Professor Nduka has made other outstanding
The Budding Scientist

contributions to science. Very profound is his theory: The

Absolute Theory of Science. This theory subsumes all
other theories in science, including his Third Revolution
Theory in Science after the order of Isaac Newton and
Albert Einstein (i.e. first and second revolution
respectively). This theory, the absolute theory of science,
explains (theoretically and mathematically) nuclear
physics, atomic physics, boson physics, nuclear fussion,
astrophysics and elementary particle physics areas of
physics which its theorization has since the 1920's
remained static. The theory also provides, for the first
time ever, explanations to boson and fermio-boson
physics areas which have eluded physicists since the
inception of physical enquiry.
Professor Nduka has also, more recently, made another
enduring contribution to the understanding of the atom. In
a paper The Geometrical Structure of Nuclei, Atoms and
Molecules published in Applied Mathematics (August
2014) gave a formal theory to the treatment of manyelectron atoms, an area where the available treatment
methods, the Schrondinger and Dirac based
approximation methods, have failed to yield correct
results. With this, Professor Nduka solved the riddle for
which his colleagues in atomic, nuclear and particle
physics could not.
A highly sought-after scientist, his only reason for still
being in the country is because of the love he has for
Nigeria, for having invested so much in his education.
More so, he wants to prove to the West that Africans are
good, irrespective of where they are be it in Nigerian or
American university. In fact, while commenting on his
contributions to science, he said, If I were to be in the US,
with all these things I'm doing here in Nigeria (referring
to his works), I would have won three Nobel Prizes in
Science. The question is: why has this professor not won
a Nobel Prize in science? The Royal Swedish Academy of
Science, I think, owes Nigerians and Africa at large, some
explanations.
Professor Amagh Nduka, who has been a Professor for 35
years, is still a Professor of Theoretical Physics and
Applied Mathematics at the Federal University of
Technology, Owerri.

Einstein's theory of general relativity

(GTR) is not a theory of gravitation;
hence its consequences, gravitational
radiation, black holes, quantum gravity,
etc. have nothing to do with physical
reality! As a physical theory, GTR is a
massive blunder, but as a geometrical
theory of curved space-time, it is a thing
of exquisite beauty.
Professor Amagh Nduka

January - April 2015

Page 11

In the classroom

Chemistry and John Dalton

The development of chemistry as a separate science is
one entwined in the life and works of one of its own, John
Dalton, the English chemist and meteorologist famed for
his atomic postulates. A curious student may ask: is
Dalton's Atomic Theory devoid of fundamental flaws?
No! Many of the things he said were incorrect; yet, his
contributions in this field remain so staggering that only
a few have surpassed him. If this be the case, what then
did he do?
Matter and its essential substance (or building block) was
once an issue mired in so much controversy. And science,
in the past (and even to this time) has relied on men with
bold imaginations and scorching intellect in advancing
knowledge. So it was in the time of the ancient Greek
philosopher and scientist, Aristotle, whose postulations
and brilliance emplaced him on the throne of scientific
and philosophical decisions. To be specific, Aristotle was
symbolic of the people's intelligence so much so that
theories lacking his endorsement saw no light of the day.
This, just as with others, was the fate of a conception that
laid bare the secret of nature the world of atoms.
From the time of ancient Greek philosophers
Leucippus of Mellitus, and to his student, Democritus of
Abedera every matter is made up of atoms. Democritus
in his solitary thinking buttressed atoms as completely
solid, homogenous and indestructible. This view was no
less to collide, headlong, with an older, entrenched and
exalted system of thought the Aristotelian conjecture of
earth, air, fire and water as the building block of matter.
As was to be expected, this revolutionary idea of
Democritus was jettisoned, derided and submerged in
oblivion and the unfounded Aristotelian elements
accepted as the building block of matter.

For over 2000 years, the Aristotelian idea of matter

reigned supreme, with no one daring to challenge it. (You
can imagine how stagnated chemistry was). As if all
hopes were lost, in 1803, the English chemist and
meteorologist, John Dalton, emboldened by his own
experimental evidences derived from the atmosphere,
waded into the labyrinth. Based on these evidences,
Dalton debunked the Aristotelians and established
credence on Democritus atom. He therefore postulated
his atomic theory which put atoms as the building block
of matter and also explained how atoms react with one
another in more than one ratio by weight. This
explanation by Dalton nailed the coffin for the
Aristotelians on the building block of matter and
consequently enthroned a new order in chemistry the
atomos order of chemistry.
Although Dalton's atomic theory is flawed at some points
and has undergone modifications, it significantly
provided the beginning for the development of atomic
theory, thus facilitating the development of chemistry as
a separate science. He got the ball rolling in modern
chemistry after 2000 years of stagnation. What a
contribution from the son of a Quaker whose formal
education ended at 12 years of age!

Dalton's Atomic Theory

1. All elements are made up of small indivisible
particles called atoms.
2. Atom can neither be created nor destroyed.
3. Atoms of the same element are alike in every aspect
and differ from atoms of other elements.
4. During a chemical reaction, there is a combination
of atoms in small whole numbers.

Lessons to be learned from Dalton

Never limit yourself! If Dalton, one whose formal education ended at 12, could be the one to put chemistry in
motion after 2000 years of near-standstill, you too can make outstanding contributions to science.

Never see yourself as inferior. If Dalton had felt inferior, would he have done what he did?

Always keep an open mind, as no scientific theory is ever finally proven. Even ideas that hold 'true' have
elements of doubt and uncertainty in them.

Know also that no man is infallible. Even great scientists have perpetuated erroneous conclusions.

Do not always follow the crowd, as science is not democratic (i.e. based on popular opinions).

Is Dalton's atomic theory consistent with the expectations

of scientists? If not, what are its flaws?
The Budding Scientist

January - April 2015

Page 12

Leading Light in the Nigerian Science

A Peep into the Life and Works of

Late Emeritus Professor Chike Obi

Culled from the yet-to-be published book Great Nigerian Scientists

Symbolic in the history of African intellectualism is the

self-taught and foremost African mathematical genius of
th
the 20 century, late Emeritus Professor Chukwunwike
Obi, known to the world as Chike Obi, who
unquestionably was the first in black Africa to master the
mysteries of mathematics.
Born in Zaria April 7 1921, he attended St. Patrick Roman
Catholic Mission School, Zaria before going back to his
hometown (Onitsha) for his secondary school education.
There in Onitsha, he became a student of Christ the King
College (1935-39). While in this school, the young Chike
Obi showed no exceptional brilliance in mathematics
until his final class. This awakening of the mathematical
centres of his intellect he attributed to the challenge he
received when their class teacher, Rev. Father Flannaga,
disdainfully told them in 1938 that Africans are incapable
of becoming mathematicians. It was this statement that
stimulated and loosened his genius in mathematics.
Exhaling from CKC Onitsha (1939), Chike Obi secured
the sponsorship of Rev. J.S. Ransome-kuti of Abeokuta in
western Nigeria. With this scholarship, he enrolled for
higher studies in Yaba Higher College (now Yaba College
of Technology, Lagos) as a science teacher in training
(June 1940). There he performed so badly in the first year
to the extent he was threatened with dismissal if he fails to
improve. This threat turned out electrical, with his
performance improving considerably in the coming year.

The young Chike Obi showed no

exceptional brilliance in mathematics until
his final class in 1939. This awakening of
the mathematical centres of his intellect he
attributed to the challenge he received when
their class teacher (Rev. Father Flannaga)
disdainfully told them in 1938 that Africans
are incapable of becoming mathematicians.
It was this statement that stimulated and
loosened his genius in mathematics.

The Budding Scientist

Following the outbreak of Second World War in 1942,

Lagos became the place for mobilization particularly
the government schools. As such, students of Yaba Higher
College were evacuated to Achimota College, Gold Coast
(the present Ghana) for the preparation of Higher College
Diploma. But Chike Obi, unlike other students, chose to
remain in Lagos and in July 1942, took and passed the
Intermediate Bachelor of Science examination of the
University of London in Mathematics, Botany and
Zoology. While his mates in Achimota College were
preparing for their Higher College Diploma, he enrolled
as an external student for Bachelor of Science Special in
Mathematics in the University of London. This
examination he prepared unaided and without any form of
tuition, except for the few books he read. Fortunately,
these books were decidedly to play important roles in his
mathematical career, and in June 1944, he sat and passed
his London Bachelor of Science degree examination in
flying colours. Two years later, he bagged a Masters of
Science degree in Mathematics (with specialty in
Dynamics and Differential equations) from the same
university.
The news of Chike Obi's success made headlines in
different national dailies, and he was soon to become a
symbol of mathematics. With the philosophy that
Africans are intellectually equal to the whites, Obi set out
January - April 2015

Page 13

Leading Light in the Nigerian Science

in motivating young Nigerians in secondary schools
within the eastern part of the nation. It was in one of these
motivational visits that he went to Dennis Memorial
Grammer School, Onitsha, where one of his would-be
mentees and another mathematical giant (the late
Emeritus Professor JOC Ezeilo) was then a student. As
he was doing all these, he was also setting up with his
friend, Pius Igboko, what may now be called University
Extra-Mural study at St. Charles College, Onitsha. And
borrowing from the oversea idea in 1945 of a Society for
the Advancement of Knowledge (SAK), they both
founded what was called Cultural Society for the
Advancement of Knowledge (CSAK). It was his
activism in this organization that earned him the British
Colonial Government scholarship to the University of
Cambridge for his Ph.D.

Apart from his contributions to the

knowledge of second order differential
equations, Chike Obi, while having
retired formally from academic work
from the University of Lagos, founded
the Nanna Institute of Scientific Studies
at Onitsha, from where he made yet
another striking contribution to
mathematics. During these periods, he
persevered in finding an elementary
proof for Fermat's Last Theorem a
350-year-old mathematical puzzle that
has eluded many mathematicians.

Within a record time of three years after his arrival in

Cambridge (1947), Chike Obi collected the first
doctorate degree (Ph.D) in Mathematics in the history of
black Africa (1950). The title of his thesis was Periodic
Solutions of Non-linear Differential Equation of the
Second Order.
While in his sojourn in the Western world (both at
Cambridge and others), Chike Obi met and rubbed
shoulders with a number of 20th century great scientists
and Nobel laureates, among whom are: Cecil Powell,
Patrick M.S. Blackett, Paul A.M Dirac and even Times
th
Magazine Scientist of the 20 Century Albert Einstein.
While commenting on Einstein, he said: The man
(Einstein) was an ordinary man and approached
The Budding Scientist

mathematics with background of an engineer which he

was. He seemed to be a contemporary of mathematicians
of the vintage type who discovered formulae or guessed
them and then tried to improve on them.
Apart from being a Visiting Professor at the University of
Jos, University of Nigeria (Nsukka), Brown University
(USA) and Mathematical Institute of the Chinese
Academy of Science, Chike Obi also lectured in the
University College Ibadan (1951-62), as well as the
University of Lagos, where he became a professor in
1971.
A Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Sciences, Science
Association of Nigeria, Cambridge Philosophical Society
and Nigerian Mathematical Society, late Emeritus
Professor Chike Obi's contributions to knowledge have
been honoured with a number of medals and distinction.
Most of his intellectual children and grand children (if not
great grand children), now occupy different chair
positions in Mathematics, Physics and Statistics in
different universities in Nigeria today.
Not only was his ingenuity evident in mathematics, he
was also an ardent and frontline nationalist of the colonial
and first republic periods (1955-66). He was the founder
and leader of the Dynamic Party; an Honourable Member
of the Federal Parliament of Nigeria representing Onitsha
Urban (1960-61), and Honourable Member of the Eastern
House of Assembly representing Onitsha Urban East
(1961-66). Most of his visions and political views were
expressed in these two publications Our Struggle: A
Political Analysis of the Problems of People Struggling
for True Freedom (1955); and I Speak for the People
(1991).
Apart from his contributions to the knowledge of second
order differential equations, Chike Obi, while having
retired formally from academic work from the University
of Lagos, founded the Nanna Institute of Scientific
Studies at Onitsha, from where he made yet another
striking contribution to mathematics. During these
periods, he persevered in finding an elementary proof for
Fermat's Last Theorem a 350-year-old mathematical
puzzle that has eluded many mathematicians. This effort
was very controversial and subsequently to grace the
USA-based Journal of Algebras, Groups and Geometries
volume 15 (1998).
Emeritus Professor Chike Obi died March 13 2008. News
of his demise drew a deluge of positive comments and
encomiums on this prince and genius of mathematics.
Bibliography: Animalu, AOE (2001). Professor Chike
Obi: A Biography of the foremost African Mathematical
Genius of the 20th Century, Abuja: National
Mathematical Centre

January - April 2015

Page 14

Interview

There is always an opportunity...

Continued from page 5
was granted and a Chinese student became my first room
mate. As such, the Bulgarian language became our only
means of communication.
This, alongside my
attentiveness in the language, was later to make me the
Best Nigerian Student in the Bulgarian Language in my
class. On the culture shock aspect, I had to do some
psychological balancing. I told myself that if foreigners
from other countries can come to Nigeria and survive,
why, should I not cope in this alien environment. The
result of this mindset was instantaneous and after a
while, I got myself adapted to the Bulgarian
environment.
On why he joined the Federal Civil Service
I came back to Nigeria in 1983, and in the year following
(1984), I did my National Youth Service programme in
the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
then in Falomo, Lagos. While at NNPC, I was attached
to the Project Engineering Department a department
charged with the responsibility of harnessing engineers
in NNPC. I was also attached to the Excravos Lagos Gas
Pipeline (now Egbim Gas Terminal) then handled by
Saipem-Snaprojecti Company.
So, when the
government of Alh. Shehu Shagari was overthrown, the
contract was terminated. Some of us who had finished
serving and were waiting to be employed (with no
godfather) in NNPC were thrown out from the system. It
was in the wake of this disappointment that I got the
Federal Civil Service Appointment which has sustained
me to this enviable position.
On some of his contributions in the Federal Ministry
of Education
My contributions have majorly been in the area of
Technical and Vocational Education in Nigeria. In fact,
the educational project on technical and vocational
education which I presented to the Nigerian Society of
Engineers in 1989 was indeed an eye opener to a lot of

people. I was also a member of the Study Panel on

Technical Teacher Production in Nigeria, as well as the
Physical Planning Committee on the establishment of
new technical colleges in the nation some years back.
The former was specifically to produce more technical
teachers and to build more technical colleges. We have
created sensitization and advocacy jingles to educate
Nigerians on the need to acquire a skill in the technical
colleges. I was also the Principal of Federal Science and
Technical Colleges, Yaba (Lagos) and Lassa in Borno
State, for a cumulative period of seven years.
On a brief overview of his Department
The Department of Technology and Science Education
has been in existence since 1972 or so. Although it was
scrapped during President Obasanjo's administration in
2007 on the advice of the former Education Minister, Dr.
Oby Ezekwesili, on the premise that the Department was
duplicating the functions of the Federal Ministry of
Science and Technology. But this was quite erroneous.
It took the intervention of the current Ministers of
Education for the Department to be restored in 2011.
Although the Department was then in-charge of the
Federal Polytechnics, Federal Colleges of Education
(Technical) and the Federal Science and Technical
Colleges at the Federal level, but some of these
responsibilities are no longer with us. In fact, it was
recently that the Department was allowed by the
Honourable Minister of Education to supervise the 21
Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTCs).
On his advice to young people in science
I advise young people to be focused. They should not
bother whether Mr. 'A' had made it or not. What should
matter to them is to break new grounds. Yes we talk
about Albert Einstein. But a lot of people have done
works that have surpassed the work of Einstein. In
essence, there is always an opportunity to break new
grounds, and young people should have this at the back
of their minds.

The Most Impressive Scientific Advance of Modern Times

Joke

physicist, biologist and an epistemologist were asked to name the most impressive
invention or scientific advance of modern times. The physicist did not hesitate It is
quantum theory. It has completely transformed the way we understand matter. The
biologist said No. It is the discovery of DNA it has completely transformed the way we
understand life. The epistemologist looked at them both and said I think it is the thermos. The
thermos? Why on earth the thermos? Well, the epistemologist explained patiently, If you put
something cold in it, it will keep it cold. And if you put something hot in it, it will keep it hot.
The Budding Scientist

January - April 2015

Page 15

Understanding Science

A Simple Way to Understand Biotechnology

and Genetic Engineering
By Ojo, Stephen Oluwalamidare

irtually all students in senior secondary schools,

nowadays, have in one way or the other come in
contact with the word biotechnology. This was
not so with some of us that had their secondary school
education in the 90's. This trend is attributable to the
current proliferation of information and the consequent
addition of some topics (either in passing or in detail) in
our educational curricula. Meanwhile, biotechnology has
been in existence from time immemorial, with our people
practicing it even before the invention of the word.
The use of plants, animals and microorganism for the
production of goods and services for man is
biotechnology, and one of its basic sciences is genetic
engineering, which is, the cutting and joining of genes.
Despite availability of information in this gene
technology, some students may still find it difficult in
understanding its basic concept. When someone buys a
Peugeot car, removes the engine and put another engine
from a Mercedes Benz, what has he done? In this case, the
body of the car is Peugeot but the engine is Mercedes. This
Peugeot car will produce all effects peculiar to Mercedes
in all ramifications including speed, fuel and oil
consumption and what have you. Yet, it is still a Peugeot
car!
A radio tape with a number of tracks (say up to 20 tracks)
strikes me another good example. Looking at this tape, it
is possible that the different segments of the tape playing
these tracks can be cut to give the individual tracks. As a
result, you may have 20 different segments, cuts or
fragments of the tape. If you now glue or stitch some of
these segments to another radio tape (say radio tape B),
you will find out that this new tape will not only play its
original tracks, but even the ones from the other tape. All
these appropriately illustrate the basic concept in genetic
engineering.
Back to the basics, a simple biology lesson tells us that
cells are the basic unit of life, and inside these cells is a
unique set of chromosomes. Each of these chromosomes
consists of a compact coil of incredibly long molecule
known as the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The DNA, on
the other, consists of genes, which are the basic unit of
hereditary. These genes are responsible for individual
characters and are independently transmitted from one
generation to the other. In other words, if a man is short, it

The Budding Scientist

means he has genes for shortness. If he is dark in

complexion, he has genes for dark complexion. So it is
with animals. A dog with long tail has genes for long tail.
What of the ones with no tail? They do not have any gene
for tail. Even in plant domain, those with large number of
seeds, have genes for large number of seeds. Plants that
are naturally weed-resistant have genes for weed
resistance. Every character manifest in an organism (both
plants and animal) has a gene responsible for it, and
without this gene, there will be no such character.
Genetic engineering therefore leverages on this gene
potential to bring about the required changes in an
organism. In such cases, a desirable gene is cut from one
organism and is transferred to another. This transferred
gene fragment now begins to produce the desired
character in the recipient organism. An organism that has
received this type of gene is said to be genetically
modified; hence, the name genetically modified
organisms (GMO's). For example, a weevil-resistance
gene is found in beans, but not in pea. This weevilresistance gene can be transferred to the pea so that it will
no longer be eaten up by weevil. If this is done, the pea is
now genetically modified.
Genetic alterations, apart from transferring a gene from
one organism to another, can as well be brought about by
changing the code within the gene or by adding
information to the code which turns the gene on or off.
Some time, also, it may involve moving a gene to a
different place in a chromosome within the same nucleus.
All these will lead to the production of genetically
modified organisms.
More so, a desirable gene fragment is incapable of
transferring itself, and must be transferred through a
vehicle called a vector. There are quite a number of
vectors, but the one commonly in use is the bacterium
plasmid. This gene fragment is pasted into the bacterial
plasmid and the plasmid made to invade the pea cell (as in
the case with the example above) and transfer the gene it
carries to the pea's DNA. This DNA, together with the
newly transferred gene, is called recombinant DNA. This
is simply the basic principle underlying genetic
engineering.

January - April 2015

Page 16

About GLOBE

Global Learning and

Observations to Benefit the
Environment (GLOBE)
By Ernest Eberechukwu Korie

lobal Learning and Observation to Benefit the

Environment (GLOBE) is a worldwide
community of students, teachers, scientists and
citizens in 111 countries working together to better
understand, sustain, and improve Earth's environment at
local, regional and global scales. The programme enables
students collect specifically valid environmental
measurements and report them to the available databases.
Also, over 56,000 teachers in more than 24,000 schools
located in 105 countries are taking important
measurements, resulting in more than 22,000,000
students-collected environmental data, for use in students'
research projects.
This programme was founded by former American Vice
President, Mr. Al Gore, in April 22 1995. Nigeria became
th
the 96 member of this family in 2002 after the then
Honourable Minister of Education, Professor Borishade,
and former American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Howard
F. Jetter, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
on behalf of the two countries.

The GLOBE vision is for a worldwide

community of students, teachers,
scientists, and citizens working together to
better understand, sustain, and improve
Earth's environment at local, regional
and global scales. And through this vision,
GLOBE encourages and supports
students, teachers and scientists to
collaborate on inquiry-based
investigations on their local environment
and at the same time, share their results
over the internet. With the data from these
investigations, GLOBE now provides online images, maps and graphs on the state
of the environment.

The GLOBE vision is for a worldwide community of

students, teachers, scientists, and citizens working
together to better understand, sustain, and improve Earth's
environment at local, regional and global scales. And
through this vision, GLOBE encourages and supports
students, teachers and scientists to collaborate on inquirybased investigations on their local environment and at the
same time, share their results over the internet. With the
data from these investigations, GLOBE now provides online images, maps and graphs on the state of the
environment.

Students from other colleges have also tapped

significantly into the resources of the environment and
have researched and constructed solar cookers, solar water
purifiers, solar electricity and dry cell phone chargers.
These feats were done by students of Federal Science
College Sokoto, Federal Science and Technical College
Yaba, and Queens' College Lagos. These research efforts
have enabled our students blend theoretical knowledge
with practical knowledge.

In the area of atmospheric and climatic measurements,

some of our GLOBE pilot colleges have done well. In fact,
Federal Government College Ijanikin and Federal Science
and Technical College Zuru, under the GLOBE Students'
Climate Research Campaign, constructed science and
environmental gardens where different areas of
atmospheric and climatic measurements are carried out
using GLOBE protocols. Information emanating from
these measurements is stored in the college's information
databank. More so, these information are presented in
graphs and maps to guide big-time farmers around the
areas on the best time to plant and harvest their crops for
bumper harvest. Students in these colleges can, among
other weather conditions, predict the relative humidity of
their environment. An entirely different effort is also
ongoing in the area of waste management. This is being
done by students in Federal Government College PortHarcourt.
The Budding Scientist

The Federal Ministry of Education, through her colleges,

is doing a lot to protect, sustain and improve the
environment. The Ministry has in occasions (2012 and
2014) organized World Environment Day Quiz
Competition for federal unity colleges in the six
geopolitical zones all of which are in commemoration of
the annual World Environment Day Celebration. Winners
from these quiz competitions (i.e. first and runner-up) in
the different zones now compete in the National
Competition which normally holds here in Abuja.
Ernest Eberechukwu Korie is a Deputy Director in the
Department of Technology and Science Education at the
Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja. He is the
Coordinator of the GLOBE Project.

January - April 2015

Page 17

Opinion

My only motivation for becoming an engineer

was to make life easier for my mother.
By Isaac Nwaedozie M.

ttending the public presentation of the book

Inculcating the Tenets of Great Scientists
authored by Chigozie Ubani, which held
Wednesday October 31 2012 at Chelsea Hotel, Wuse
II Abuja, Engr. Dr. Umar Buba Bindir, the very
eloquent and charismatic Director-General of the
National Office for Technology Acquisition and
Promotion (NOTAP), apart from stressing the need to
translate scientific findings (most of which repose on
bookshelves in Nigerian universities) into tangible
phenomena, told his audience (especially students)
that he never chose to become an engineer, but his
only motivation was to make life easier for his mother,
whom he loved so much. This was indeed surprising
to some who considered his motivation somewhat
remote from the reality (as many go into professional
careers for prestige and possible financial gain). But
on a second thought, Dr. Bindir was right.
Just as the careers and researches of most scientists
were influenced by their background, so was it for
Engr. Dr. Umar Buba Bindir. Coming from a
community of predominantly farmers, he saw
engineering as a tool that, when effectively deployed,
can make life easier for not only his mother, but his
community. Little wonder he studied agricultural
engineering up to the highest attainable degree
(Ph.D). He was also to make original contributions to
this field, some of which include the design and
manufacture of a patented groundnut combined
harvester and coconut de-husking machine (both
commercially produced and marketed in Australia
and Asia Pacific).
Making life easier for people therefore underlines the
core of every scientific and technological feat. This is
what motivated Alexander Fleming in discovering
antibiotics penicillin (the wonder drug) in 1928. It is
also what made Edward Jenner discover vaccination.
It is still not different from what inspired Henry Ford
in building affordable cars for his countrymen. In fact,
Americans were swept with delirium when, in 1908,
Ford announced his intention of building motor cars
for their great multitude. This is also what inspired the
Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orvile, in flying the first
controlled flight in human history (1903). It is still not

The Budding Scientist

different from what made Dr. Bindir in becoming an

agricultural engineer and his consequent designs and
inventions in the field.
Engr. Dr. Umar Buba Bindir has for six years now
been the Director-General of the National Office for
Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP)
an agency in the Federal Ministry of Science and
Technology. Within these periods, Dr Bindir has
given enormous visibility to NOTAP; influenced a lot
of foreign technology inflow, thereby contributing to
wealth and employment creation; saved for the
national economy more than 5 billion naira through
his intervention in foreign technology trade;
improved the knowledge-base of Nigerian
researchers in the area of intellectual property rights;
established more than 33 intellectual property offices
across the national system of innovation in Nigeria,
and as a result, increased the patent density of
indigenous researchers by facilitating patenting
procedures at minimal or no cost. More than anything
else, Dr. Bindir has developed a continental expertise
in evolving a functional Science, Technology and
Innovation System for development in Africa.
Isaac Nwaedozie M. is a Chief Technology Officer at
the National Office for Technology Acquisition and
Promotion (NOTAP) Abuja.

January - April 2015

Page 18

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