By Mbadiwe Okwo
Nsukka – Scientists from across the globe have gathered in Nsukka, Enugu State, to discuss the future of nanotechnology in Africa.

Organised by the nanotechnology research group at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the 3rd African Nanotechnology Conference has the theme Nanotechnology: Key to National and Industrial Development.

Declaring the conference open, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, lamented that many research results were wasting on university shelves because industrialists shied away from them.

Ozumba, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor （Academic）, Prof. James Ogbonna, said industrialists should work with researchers for innovations.

Earlier in her address of welcome, the Leader of the UNN Nanotechnology Research Group, Prof. Rose Osuji, said the university was partnering with Oilserv, an indegenous oil service company, to set up an African Centre for Nanosciemces and Nanotechnology Research and Application.

”Although we are making little progress with the little or no facilities at our disposal, we strongly believe that given the right tools we will certainly perform better.

”It is the desire of this research group to fast track development through human and infrastructural capacity building, consequently reducing the gap between the developed and the emerging economies,” she said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Engr. John Chukwu, described nanotechnology as one of the areas of science and technology that was crucial to development due to its multiplier impact on the economy and industrial development.