The Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (MAN), Kwara/Kogi Chapter, Alhaji Kamorudeen Yusuf, stated this while delivering the keynote address at the annual symposium of the American Chemical Society, (ACS) Nigeria Chapter held at the auditorium of the University of Ilorin on Tuesday.

It was gathered that Alhaji Yusuf who is also the Chairman of KAM Industries Nigeria Limited was honoured as the 2017 ACS Awardee at the event.

According to him, "There is an urgent need for the Federal Government through the NUC to give more priority to Science related courses during admission process. This should be done in the ratio 70 to 30 percentage for both sciences and non-sciences respectively.

"This will further ensure the need for entrepreneurial skills among our teeming youths and fast track the desired growth for the nation. "

In his address entitled:"Sustainable Chemistry: Industrialists and Gown Relationship Improvement for Research Excellence", Alhaji Yusuf disclosed that, "Discussing this topic is highly desirable and timely owing to the fact that our country in particular and the world at large is facing numerous economic challenges occasioned by lack of adequate policy thrust for improved research and productivity as well as lack of spirit of policy implementation.

"There is no doubt that there is increasing pressure from both society and government on industries to develop clean, safe and secured processes to produce useful, eco-friendly, harmless and sustainable products."

He further stressed that, "There is also need to uphold the fact that the ecological footprint of chemical products needs to be decreased drastically.

"Since the entire process of human endeavour is Chemistry due to the various chemical components and reactions involved, I stand tall to say that this symposium is in the right direction towards ensuring a positive drive for a sustainable economy through a genuine and robust relationship among Chemical Practitioners in the Academics and Industries especially in Nigeria."

The expressing commitment to nation-building process, the KAM Industries boss emphasised that, "At our end as industrialists, we are more engaged in the practice of chemistry for the development of our economy in the area of innovation of industrial equipments, production of materials, researching into technological advancement and among all creation of jobs. All these are the major recipes needed to sustain a developing economy like ours.

"At KAM Industries, we uphold standard in the production and packaging of our products and we improve on our technical know-how in line with international best practice in order to become one of the leading Steel Industry in Nigeria, Africa Sub-Region and large."

Earlier receiving the awardee his office, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali advocated for working relationship between the University and KAM Industries for better research and practical knowledge among staff and students of the institution.

Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Professor (Mrs.) Sidikat Ijaiya, the VC noted that "No University can survive without fostering adequate working relationship with industrialists like you. We are always very proud of you and we are looking forward having you as one of our partners in progress. "

The VC however lamented over poor leadership as part of the major catalysts hindering the nation's growth even as he commended KAM Industries Nigeria Limited for standing out among many establishment in the nation.