Ibrahim Katampe is a professor of chemistry, and he is the director, Innovation & Technology Incubation, Centre of Excellence in Emerging Technologies (CEET), Central State University, USA. In this interview with BABA YUSUF, the vice-chair of committee set up by TETFund, speaks on the project’s enormous advantages and benefits in resolving the country’s security and unemployment challenges.
Background
My name is Professor Ibrahim Katampe, a Nigerian, from the Federal Capital Territory. I have been a research scientist in the Diaspora for over 29 years.
A professor of chemistry, but presently, the director of Innovation in the Centre of Excellence in Emerging Technologies at Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio.
I founded the Iyatech laboratories, working in material science and product development. I am a research scientist, innovator, scholar and an entrepreneur. Before joining the Central State University, I formed Iyatech USA, an innovative R&D company focused on the development and commercialisation of eco-chemical technologies.
We developed and took some products into the public domain. We went from being a product development lab to producing for the market. I have a lot of published write-ups in several chemical and allied academic journals and as an inventor I have about nine United States-issued patents.
I was a senior research and development scientist at Cycolor Incorporated, a Japanese-owned USA-based corporation, where I worked and collaborated with technology and business companies in the United States, Europe and Asia (especially Japan, China and India).
I am passionate about regional economic development, “building the right of way” into Africa to combat poverty.
Academic background in Nigeria and transition to the Diaspora
I attended Abizanga Primary School in Keffi and finished at Baptist Primary School in Keffi. I went to Government Secondary School, Miango, in Plateau state, and graduated with my GCE in 1982, and headed to the School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
I was offered admission to study Chemistry and I graduated in 1986. I did my NYSC at Olaoluwa Grammer School, Ondo state. I opted to go back to the academia based on the advice of my uncle in 1987. I returned to Ahmadu Bello University, the Department of Chemistry, as a graduate assistant. I embarked on my research interest in natural products chemistry, but unfortunately we did not have a lot of materials, so six months or so down the line we were handicapped.
I had a very good polymer supervisor who wanted us do a lot in polymer chemistry and polymer synthesis. Years went by, 1988 came then 1989, fortunately another professor who had just come back from Leeds University in UK advised we work on colour chemistry.
Colour chemistry is a disciplinary research between organic chemistry, textiles and synthesising dyes. We commenced work with the professor, but six or seven months into it we ran out of chemical supplies, and as a last resort he advised that I apply to go to his Alma Mater, the University of Leeds. I applied and was accepted to work with his supervisor, John Brifet, for an M Field programme in Masters of Philosophy, concentrating on colour chemistry.
It is the only university that has a department of colour chemistry in Europe, quite prestigious that deals with all kinds of dyes, synthesis, applications, textiles dyes, pharmaceutical dyes, and food dyes. I‘m grateful to the Ahmadu Bello University for allowing me to go on its staff leave of absence.
While in Leeds I started my MSc field programme, but got a sponsorship from SERC (Science Engineering Research Council Award). I transitioned my MSc field programme to a PHD programme at the Open University working with Dr Alan Basildor in an organometallic synthesis.
It was a fully funded programme and I finished my PhD. Immediately I finished my lab work and thesis I was offered an opportunity to go to the USA in 1995, and started working for a private sector in research and development.
My profound reason and driving factor for going abroad is triggered by the lack of lab capabilities and research materials in the country.
As vice-chair on new TETFund project
Recently, the TETFund executive secretary, Professor Suleiman Bogoro, came up with this concept about research development being the pillar of any developing country. He formed an ad hoc committee to work with his internal select management team to come up with a framework for the institutionalisation of R&D and innovation in Nigerian tertiary Institutions. The committee will be the working group that will put the framework together on behalf of TETFund.
The committee’s objectives, mandate
The terms of reference are basically to sensitise and recalibrate the thinking of Nigerians, especially that of TETFund, concerning the importance of research and product development. We are to develop a mechanism on how to institutionalise this in tertiary educational institutions. The recipients or beneficiaries of most TETFund funds are to be involved in the project, because once that is achieved it will lead to economic and industrial growth in line with the vision of the president.
TETFund venturing into research, development
TETFund’s mandate as established by the TETFund Act of 2001 has different sections. Yes, one of its mandates includes infrastructure development, but its core mandate is to support research and educational activities. TETFund’s mandate also includes book development, libraries, journals, and publications, because before you publish, you have to do research, which is why it is important that TETFund now ensures that the type of research they fund are in line with the country’s priority needs. This will enable them solve economic problems and other challenges bedeviling the system.
TETFund’s sub-committee is ad hoc
It is an ad hoc committee. We were drafted to put the framework together, work with the TETFund management to institutionalise the idea within the TETFund environment and hand it over to the executive secretary who will then present it to other organisations for their buy in.
Like in his brief, he said he had to consult NUC first to see what their needs areas were. He is also making consultations with industries to spread the word. He is already in discussions with industries, universities and the government. These three entities will form the triple halest. It is a whole paradigm shift, so our work will be done when everybody wakes up every morning knowing why the R&D is necessary in the fabric of our nation.
How long will you stay back in Nigeria for this project?
As a member of the committee, we know the world is a global village; you can be anywhere and still do what you need to do. That is why there are two co-chairs who can mine data anywhere in the world. So, even though I might not be physically present sometimes, it does not mean that the work will stop.
We are a cohesive team; we have a platform meant for sharing ideas, like facebook, net groups, wikileaks where at any given time we are still working. We do not have to always meet physically, but of course sometimes we do. We are a tripod, the two co chairs, and I, and we support the team of technocrats that are on the ground.
Does this mean that if this committee succeeds we would have product innovation and development across different sectors of the economy?
Not if it succeeds, it will succeed because this is what drives nations. We are a third world country and we desire to do our own things, but without innovations we cannot succeed. The biggest issue is working to change people’s mindset, leading change, and having a paradigm shift.
If you recall, we use to have cell phones or house phones, but now everybody has mobile phones, all with cameras and a lot of gadgets. These are all innovations, once that succeeds universities can generate revenue. But you may ask how will they generate revenue, this will be due to the partnership with the private sectors; they will bring innovations to the private sectors. The second point is that the private sectors would be sustainable because constantly they will have new products, innovations, market strategies which will come from the academia, the center of knowledge and innovations.
When you have this mutual relationship, industries will benefit and if industries benefit, the work force especially our youth will be employed, and if our youth are employed, it solves our security issues and stops idleness. So, the outcome is enormous because of the paradigm shift, there will be boom in the economy, people will be less dependent on government doing everything, that is why it is called a sustainable framework.
