By Ikenna Nwokedi 

History was made on Wednesday, 28th October 2024 as the Chemical Engineering Alumni Class of 2012 recognized and rewarded three research projects of the Department's final year students.

The maiden colourful event was an initiative of the 'Chemical Engineering Alumni Class of 2012' geared towards promoting academic excellence through research, raising the visibility of the Department and giving back to the University Community.

Three research projects out of the seven presented by the participating groups got the nod and approval of the panelists after a careful evaluation in the selection process which includes research project presentations and defenses done virtually.

The research project of the duo of Adeoluwa Great Adebusuyi and Lilian Chikasi Okonkwo titled, "Enhancement of membrane properties of orange peel/lemon grass essential oil biofilm by aloe vera and chitosan for post-harvest preservation of tomato" supervised by Engr. Pascal Ohale won the first position with a prize reward of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000).

The second position with a prize reward of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) went to the research project carried out by the pair of Promise Okeke and Victor Odinaka on the topic, "Mycelia effective growth by inoculation of glucose solution using rotary biofilm contactor for high yield of Fumaric Acid" which was supervised by Engr. Dr. Chika Okonkwo.

The research project titled, "Production of particle board from rice husk using wood adhesive synthesized from spent cassava starch," carried out by the duo of Okechukwu Nzekwe and Onyeka Unigwe supervised by Engr. Professor Joseph T. Nwabanne came third and settled for the prize reward of Sixty Thousand Naira (N60,000).

In his reaction, the Head, Department of Chemical Engineering, Engr. Dr. Chukwunonso Okoye eulogized the Alumni set of 2012 for the thoughtful idea and initiative which according to him will aid the hunger for quality research projects by final year students of the Department both now and in the future, the scholar called on other Alumni Classes to emulate the kind gesture for the growth of the department and education at large.

On his part, a former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Engr. Professor Joseph Nwabanne described the initiative from the 2012 Alumni Class as a goal oriented move that will rekindle the nostalgia for research by both undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Department. Prof. Nwabanne while congratulating the winners called on other Alumni Classes to borrow a leaf from the thoughtful process established by the 2012 Alumni Class. 

Re-echoing the views of other scholars, the immediate past Head of the Department and erstwhile Sub-Dean of the Faculty, Engr. Prof. Victor Ugonabo stated that Chemical Engineering Department of UNIZIK has always been at the forefront of promoting academic excellence through teaching, research and community service. The scholar described the initiative by the 2012 Alumni Class as wonderful and one that will re-ignite the passion for research by students as well as enhanced tutelage by scholars of the Department.

Highpoints of the occasion was honour and reward of the students whose research projects came tops during the selection process.