P&G partners with the Royal Society of Chemistry to promote science in Kenya

Consumer goods Company, Procter & Gamble (P&G) in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is now expanding to explore collaborations with scientists in Kenya. The partnership coordinated through the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Pan Africa Chemistry Network (PACN) supports the establishment of a sustainable and innovative science base across Africa. To this end P&G has contributed over Ksh 3.5 million to the university with the funds going to fund the student in the program as well as buy new machines in the science laboratory of the university.

This is part of P&G’s activities that are aimed at creating a mentorship program that will integrate top chemistry students who are either in their final year or just completed their studies. While launching the program during a two day chemistry symposium yesterday at the University of Nairobi, Raffaele Scoccianti Research and Development Manager at P&G said that the program is an excellent opportunity for the science community at the University of Nairobi as they will be able to get best in class equipment and support from both the university and from P&G.

The program will involve daily coaching of the students on better research methods that will develop quality goods that addresses consumer’s needs and demands. Scoccianti said product innovation is a continuous process due to ever changing market trends and there is need to fully comprehend the chemistry involved in the manufacturing process so as to keep up with the dynamics.

“This is the second program in Africa after Nigeria and we are keen on developing a strong link with these institutions to be able to promote innovation and research development,” Scoccianti added.

Scoccianti

While addressing participants who were drawn from various institutions of higher learning, the chairman of Pan Africa Chemistry Network (PACN) a set-up of Royal Society of Chemistry Prof Shem Wandiga said every year there are thousands of graduates from universities ready for the job market but majority of them lack soft skill trainings that the curriculum doesn’t allow but much needed by the market.

“We want to enhance these soft skill training by setting up a laboratory that will act as a centre of excellence, equipped with research tools for studies,” Prof Wandiga added. He said many Kenyan scientists and engineers lack the capacity to use the modern scientific and technological advances to address local challenges and the new lab to be set up will be able to address such challenges.

He said the corporation between the universities, P&G and Royal Society of Chemistry will enable students and scientists to exchange knowledge, enhance skills and generate sustainable opportunities for innovation in areas of hygiene, health and waste management which are part of the millennium development goals.

RSC has also been establishing centres of excellence for the chemical sciences to support economic & human development as well as supporting chemistry in Higher Education by running courses and providing training to allow scientists to make better use of resources.