By Johnpaul Anih, Ph.D
Like the rising sun illuminating the dawn, the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) is set to bask in the glow of intellectual brilliance as she hosts her 45th inaugural lecture on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
At the heart of this scholarly convergence stands Prof. Charles C. Chime, an erudite scholar, a colossus in the field of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, and the Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, who will mount the podium as the distinguished lecturer.
The event, aptly titled “Adsorption Revolution: Transforming the Fight Against Heavy Metal Pollution,” will be held at Dr. Barr. Ndubuisi Mbah Auditorium, ESUT.
It promises to be a melting pot of academia, where the crème de la crème of the intellectual world, industry experts, government dignitaries, students among others, will gather, eager to sip from the fountain of knowledge that Professor Chime embodies.
A man whose scholarly journey reads like an epic, Prof. Chime has spent decades in the trenches of scientific inquiry, unearthing groundbreaking solutions to the environmental crises that threaten the delicate balance of our ecosystem.
With the precision of a master sculptor, he has carved a niche in pollution control, sustainable environmental management, and chemical analysis, leaving an indelible mark on the scientific community.
Like an alchemist of old, he has transformed scientific theories into practical solutions, developing avant-garde techniques for removing toxic metals from water, soil and air in this era of environmental recklessness, which offers a roadmap for policymakers, industries, and researchers navigating the treacherous waters of ecological conservation.
As he ascends the podium for this momentous lecture, the academic community eagerly awaits a symphony of wisdom, one that will not only deepen the discourse on environmental sustainability but also ignite a paradigm shift in the war against heavy metal pollution.
Recent studies raises alarm on the perils of unchecked industrial activities, revealing that toxic metal contamination in Nigeria’s soils, water, and food supplies has reached crisis levels, posing an existential threat to both human health and ecological stability.
The urgent need for actionable solutions has never been more pronounced.
Expected to grace this intellectual ‘ofalla’ are the Vice Chancellor of this hallowed institution, Prof. Aloysius Michaels Okolie; distinguished members of the University Senate; government functionaries; an array of eminent scholars, students among others.
Their presence will not only lend gravitas to the event but also signal a collective commitment to the pursuit of knowledge-driven solutions for environmental sustainability.
But beyond the rigor of scientific discourse, Prof. Chime’s lecture will unveil the human and economic dimensions of heavy metal pollution, illustrating how this silent killer seeps into our daily lives, compromising public health and stunting economic progress.
It will be a clarion call to industries to clean up their act and for policymakers to abandon the comfort of rhetoric for the rigors of decisive action.
As Prof. Chime delivers this much-anticipated lecture, it will etch another golden chapter in his illustrious career, one defined by an unrelenting quest for knowledge, a steadfast commitment to mentorship and an undying passion for using science as a tool to sculpt a cleaner, healthier world.
This event is not merely a celebration of one man’s academic odyssey; it is an inspiration for generations of scholars yet unborn, an invitation to push the boundaries of human understanding and, in doing so, safeguard the future of our planet.
See you there !
Johnpaul Anih, Ph.D
