The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, has called on stakeholders in the academic and industrial sectors to embrace technology with urgency saying technology is dynamic and everyone must rise to meet it.
Prof. Obi made this call during the opening session of a one-week Physical and Virtual Training workshop on "Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) Operation, Result and Analysis", organized by the Unical Research and Central Laboratory in collaboration with the Directorate of Equipment Maintenance and Development Centre held at the PDTF Chemistry Laboratory, University of Calabar.
Represented by the Director, Equipment Maintenance and Development Center (EMDC), Prof. Rufus Okoro, the Vice Chancellor warmly welcomed both physical and virtual participants to the training.
She stated that the concept of virtual participation itself reflects the power and reach of technology.
"We cannot afford to pretend or lag behind in the trend of global advancement. Unical recently celebrated its 50th anniversary; a milestone that marks not just age, but a call to greater innovation and relevance. The world must know that Unical exists and thrives in this part of the globe", she said.
Prof. Obi expressed optimism about the outcomes of the workshop, encouraging participants to apply the acquired knowledge in order to add value in their various fields and organizations.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the training, and Pioneer/Immediate Past Director of EMDC, Unical, Prof. Joseph K. Ebigwai, described the workshop as the first of its kind in the university.
He said its aim is to equip participants with hands-on skills and knowledge that will boost efficiency and productivity in their workplaces.
The Workshop Coordinator noted that participants have joined from different states across the country, many attending virtually.
“We’ve made this training as practical as possible", he added.
Prof. Ebigwai who also delivered a talk on the Industrial Application of Heavy Metals, explained that elements such as vanadium, nickel, and copper are extensively used in the oil and gas industry due to their unique chemical properties.
These metals, he said, help in identifying hydrocarbon source rocks, tracing migration pathways, evaluating reservoir traps, and correlating oil with its source through metal signature ratios like V/Ni.
The Former Director further explained how heavy metals aid in exploration through geochemical surveys, play critical roles in drilling as components in mud and corrosion inhibitors, and serve as catalysts in refining processes to enhance fuel quality.
Prof. Ebigwai, a distinguished Unical @50 award recipient however cautioned against improper handling of heavy metals, noting that they have the potential of posing serious risks, including that of corrosion, contamination, and environmental damage.
Importantly, the workshop attracted participants from various sectors, including industry professionals from Lagos, Ilorin, Warri, Port Harcourt, Eket, Uyo, and Benin.
Also in attendance were eight staff members from different Tank Farms in Calabar, as well as, representatives from RUWASSA and the Cross River State Ministries of Health and Agriculture.
The training is expected to continue the following day with sessions on AAS Hardware and Routine Maintenance, followed by Calibration and Analytical Procedures amongst others.
The highly resources workshop has expert trainers from the UK, Agilent Technologies, Lagos, and Port Harcourt facilitating the sessions.
The workshop is expected to run for one week with intensive modules and practical sessions tailored to promote capacity development in industrial applications and laboratory techniques.
#Public Relations Unit,
University of Calabar
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