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Women Chemists Hold Iupac Centenary Celebration In FUTA


WOMEN CHEMISTS HOLD  IUPAC CENTENARY CELEBRATION IN FUTA

The Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN) in collaboration with Women in Chemistry (WIC) Ondo Chapter hosted a Global Breakfast Meeting at the Federal University of Technology, Akure to celebrate the Centenary Anniversary of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). The IUPAC Centenary with the theme: Empowering Women in Chemistry: A Global Networking Experience coincides with the International year of the Periodic Table. Convener of the event and Coordinator, Women in Chemistry, Ondo Chapter, Dr. (Mrs.) Veronica Akpambang said the goal of the breakfast meeting was to bring together women scientists at different career stages to learn from each other as the event serves to connect organizations of all types with each other on a single day in a global hand wave around the world.

Akpambang disclosed that IUPAC was formed in 1919 by chemists from industry and academia who recognized the need for international standardization in Chemistry and the need for internal cooperation among Chemists to facilitate research work.

She added that Global Women’s breakfast was put together to assist Women Chemists to expand their network of contacts locally and internationally and to celebrate the accomplishments of Women Scientists in history.

She urged participants to leverage on their network to help each other to achieve more milestones in learning and research.

While giving a Talk at the occasion, Professor of Instrumentation, Professor Mrs. Christina Adeeyinwo said that women must break through societal limitations to excel in their respective careers as scientists. Speaking on the topic “Towards the Betterment of Women in Chemistry”, Adeeyinwo stated that when women are given any opportunity, they perform excellently well and always pay attention to details.

She highlighted some of the issues that affect women in life to include martial issues, equating women’s appearance to personal attitudes and the likes. She said there’s the need for women to build and encourage one another through collaborations and networking.

The Don said women face the same issues all over the world and go through the same rigorous benchmarks   as their male counterparts to advance in every sphere of life.  She added that while there may never be gender equality, gender equity is being embraced globally.

Adeeyinwo said history is replete with women scientists who have excelled despite visible barriers and she admonished women to seek counsel on knotty issues while imbibing positive traits that will enable them to succeed in their personal lives and careers.

Earlier the Chairman, Chemical Society of Nigeria, Professor Ishaq Amoo said that women scientists should support each other. He said women in chemistry is not limited to only the academia but to all branches of pharmaceuticals which deal with solvents. He said Chemistry is an indisputable part of life as there is no aspect of human existence that does not deal with it.

He encouraged participants to write for local and international journals and be part of chemistry related bodies both at home and abroad.

Professor Amoo acknowledged the support of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Fuwape and commended him for his forthrightness and academic leadership.

The breakfast meeting was attended by women chemists from Ondo and Ekiti states.