The harmattan season is here. The air is very dry and more conducting. This is the time to strictly avoid the use of cell phones at petrol stations and other places where highly flammable substances are stored. Some clothing materials produce cracking sounds and visible flashes during this season. Such materials should not be used in environments saturated with flammable vapours. Be cautious. Stay safe. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance.

CAUTION!!! Latex glove seems to react with gold and the product is a skin irritant. This observation is being investigated. Meanwhile, exercise caution.

One of the ways to promote chemistry in Nigeria is to ensure that no Chemistry Department is accredited without at least four of the following: UV Spec, FTIR Spec, MS, NMR Spec, GC, HPLC, DSC, DMA, TGA, SEM. We can't train competent Chemists without at least four of the instruments.

The most essential acquisition for risk mitigation is knowledge.

INAUGURATION OF CHEMICAL INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CIMS) AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY, EKITI STATE UNIVERSITY (EKSU), ADO EKITI, NIGERIA. With the aid of the government of the United States of America through Sandia Laboratories, the Dept of Chemistry, EKSU launched its CIMS yesterday, Thursday 13 July, 2017. Some visuals:

Chemical safety and security outreach is one line of activity that will make chemistry very popular among the populace. It addresses some health needs of all living organisms - man, animals and plants.

A WONDERFUL TIME. Tuesday, 20 June 2017 was quite a memorable day. A seminar/workshop on chemical safety and security was conducted in Ekiti State University to mark the 20th year of CWC during the Chemical Week of the Students Chemical Society. 86 participants attended. A TTX was conducted on the management of risk at a facility for storing fertiliser grade ammonium nitrate. The climax of the programme was making the exercise a reality through a video - Dangerously Close - a video of the explosion of a fertiliser storage facility in Texas. (A link to the video can be found on this page). 20 participants made life-loñg commitment to the promotion of chemical safety and security. Some of the slides are shown below.

A man was recently bathed with sulphuric acid. He needs 28,000 USD (11,000,000 naira) for corrective surgery. The cost of handling chemical safety and security with levity is very high.

If you are a chemistry professional, apply for career-enhancing courses organised regularly by OPCW.