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.
No comments:
Post a Comment