AJANI OLAYINKA OYEWALE

Prof. Professor of Organic Chemistry B.Sc (Ife), M.Sc (Ife), Ph.D (Covenant University), MICCON, MCSN, MACS

Chemistry

Overview

I welcome you to the Department of Chemistry; we are taking the lead in the areas of research and teaching. The department is poised to emerge with a blende of highly demanded crop of caring and remarkably diverse people, interests, with 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 sciences and its allied discipline, with major commitment to the new frontiers of Chemistry research such as Medicinal, Nano, Computational, Combinational Physical, Materials, Inorganic, Organic, Analytical and Environmental Chemistry.

It is a pleasure and privilege to be part of the Department of Chemistry family in Covenant University, to enjoy 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 cannot be overstated. The Department metamorphosed from the Department of Physical Sciences which was established in 2004 / 2005 academic session in which the following programmes were offered:

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 word 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.

In 2014/2015 academic session the department also included options in her programmes to cover the following areas:

Chemistry
Industrial Chemistry
Chemistry (Analytical/Environmental Option)
Chemistry (Polymer/Material Option)

The Chemistry syllabus encompasses the key aspects of a complete chemistry course, as is obtainable globally: Analytical, Inorganic, Organic and Physical chemistry. Graduates in this field have job prospects in areas of Forensic analysis, Drug manufacturing, Pharmaceutical industries as well as Public analyst.

The Industrial Chemistry is the branch of chemistry which applies to physical and chemical processes toward the transmutation of raw materials into products that are of benefit to mankind. The goal of this degree programme is to produce graduates who will be highly skilled in this area. We do this by first giving the students a solid foundation in chemistry, mathematics and physics. The Industrial Chemistry graduate is a chemist with knowledge linkages in engineering, chemical processing, economics and industrial management. This programme has been designed to provide the student an insight into chemistry as used/ employed in industry. The pharmaceutical, petrochemical, soap and detergents, paints, dyes, textiles, insecticides, food and biochemical industries are just some of the endeavours where industrial chemistry is applied. This offers enormous scope to the students.

The Analytical and Environment option of study has two main disciplines: Environmental Chemistry, with investigation of the effects of chemical compounds in nature as it relates to air, water, soil, food chains and organisms. This study is basically on how chemicals interact with the natural environment. Analytical Chemistry, with the development of analytical methods to solve problems in environmental chemistry, like environmental monitoring and studies of the quality of water and contents of effluents. The option provides specialist knowledge of the instrumentation and method development for the identification and quantification of natural and anthropogenic compounds at trace level. Job prospects for experience in Analytical/Environmental Chemist include: Toxicology Consultant, Biogeochemist of Organic Contaminants, Organics Section Manager, Analytical Chemist, Environmental Chemist, Research and Development Chemist, Safety Specialist and Project Chemist to mention few.

The Materials/Polymer Chemistry option is an important sub-discipline within Chemistry that cross-cuts the traditional Organic/Inorganic/Physical boundaries of Chemistry and overlaps many disciplines from Engineering to the Biosciences. The field of study gives a leading role in areas such as microelectronics, polymer science, catalysis and nanotechnology which make an important contribution to areas of more traditional chemistry. Graduates in this field have job prospects in engineering fields and bio-medical industries in areas where adhesives, coatings, synthetic rubber, synthetic fibers, agricultural chemicals, packaging, automotive, aircraft, and materials for the aerospace are made.

In conclusion, it is good to point out that graduates from any of the Chemistry options being offered in Covenant University is eligible for admission to the Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN) and the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON). In addition, such graduate is eligible to be considered for membership of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) for professional development programme leading to membership of IPAN (MIPAN) after two to three years of graduate experience.

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

Dr. R.O Mordi
Prof. O.O Ajani
Prof. J. A. O. Olugbuyiro
Mrs. C.O Ajanaku
Mrs. I.O Olanrewaju

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
Prof. Benson Nsikak	Marine Environmental Chemistry
Prof. Ajanaku Kolawole	Waste Management
Prof. Akan B. Willaims	Marine Environmental Chemistry/Toxicology
Dr. Winifred T. Anake	Environmental Chemistry
Mrs. Edobor-Osoh Abiola	Biophysical Chemistry
Mrs. Olanrewaju Ifedolapo O.	Natural Product Chemistry

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

Prof. AJANI, Olayinka Oyewale

Professor of Organic Chemistry

B.Sc (Ife), M.Sc (Ife), Ph.D (Covenant University), MICCON, MCSN, MACS

AJANI OLAYINKA OYEWALE

Chemistry

Overview

Philosophy and Objectives

Research & Development

Admission Requirements

Chemistry