Nigeria Urged to Convert Waste into Valuable Resources

During the 206th Inaugural Lecture at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, on September 8, 2026, Professor Kenneth Kanayo Alaneme, a Professor of Mechanical and Structural Materials Engineering, stated that Nigeria must view agricultural and industrial waste as valuable resources. He argued that these wastes could be transformed into useful engineering materials, thereby reducing environmental pollution and creating entrepreneurial opportunities.

Alaneme called for a shift from reliance on imported materials to the development of sustainable, locally sourced engineering solutions. He highlighted that Nigeria's agricultural and industrial activities generate significant waste that could serve as feed stocks for valuable products.

He identified major constraints to the Nigerian engineering sector, including dependence on imports, inadequate local manufacturing capacity, and high production costs. Alaneme stressed the importance of harnessing local resources, including waste materials, to foster technological innovation and improve the country's position in the global materials value chain.