The Pan African Materials Institute (PAMI) of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, is focused on creating new materials for Africa’s development. This it aims to do by developing excellence in the areas of Education, Research and Outreach.
The research goals of PAMI are intertwined with some of its education goals. While it carries out research, aimed at creating new materials for Africa’s development, it simultaneously develops and educates African Scientists, who will carry on this work.
PAMI research is divided into three main groups: (i) Focused Research Group (FRG) on Biomaterials, which focuses on disease detection and treatment; (ii) Focused Research Group on Energy and (iii) Focused Research Group on Multifunctional Materials. The FRG on Biomaterials is engaged in Nanomedicine for localised treatment and imaging of Cancer and Arteriosclerosis, BioMEMS device fabrication for localised drug delivery, using implantable and degradable and non-degradable devise structures, integration of BioMEMS devices with battery and communications platform technologies for improved performance; Hyperthermia and integration of inductive heating methods to BioMEMS matrices. Biomedical imaging and computational techniques in pathology and forensic sciences as well as the modelling of phenomena associated with cancer cells/tissue in Africa fall under this group.
FRG is achieving excellence in (i) nanoparticles for Cancer detection and treatment and (ii) implantable devices for Cancer detection and treatment. Recently graduated PhD students from this group include, Dr. John David Obayemi, Dr. KwabenaKanDapaah, and Dr. DanyuoYiporo.
Dr. Kwabena Kan Dapaah is a Ghanaian, who worked on creating implantable composite devices for the localised treatment of Breast Cancer. He worked under the supervision of Dr. NimaRahbar at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Massachusetts, USA (one of PAMI’s partners) and Professor Wole Soboyejo, former President of AUST, now at Princeton University. Kwabena’s thesis aimed at the development of new strategies that could increase the use of lumpectomy to eliminate residual Cancer cells, to reduce local recurrence with limited side effects. The research suggested that multifunctional composite have the potentials to kill residual breast Cancer cells after lumpectomy.
Dr. John David Obayemi, a Nigerian, developed Nano- and Micro- particles for Breast Cancer Detection and Treatment. The implications of the results are the development of nanoparticles and injectable micro particles for specific targeting and localised drug delivery in the treatment of Breast Cancer.
Dr. DanyuoYiporo, another Ghanaian, who worked on Implantable Biomedical Devices for Localised Breast Cancer Drug delivery, made strides in the area of materials for drug delivery and treatment. The results from this research suggest the potential for the future development of implantable devices for localised cancer treatment.
The achievements of the Focused Research Group on Energy Materials are mainly in the areas of stretchable and flexible organic solar cells and in the development of Organic Light-Emitting Devices (OLEDS). In the future, the group will work on the integration of energy storage devices and batteries with light-trapping systems to new generation roofing materials and novel energy generation systems. Both experimental and computational modelling methods are used with the aim of developing the next generation of solar cells and light-emitting devices from organic and perovskite-based materials, while exploring the frontiers of Lithium ion and platinum-based materials for energy storage. The achievements of this group are exemplified in the research work of Drs. VitalisAnye, KehindeOyewole, EgidiusRwenyagila, and Adebayo Fashina, who have all graduated from the University.
Activities of the Focused Research Group on Multifunctional Materials are in the development of materials for water purification and also for sustainable buildings and infrastructure. Mineral processing is also an aspect that this group is working on in order to develop safe mining practices and efficient processing of mineral resources, including urban mining technologies. The group uses both computational modeling and experimental tools in its work. The research of Drs. AzekoSalifu, Mustapha Kabiru and Emmanuel Arthur, who graduated from the group in 2015 and Dr. Ebenezer Annan, who graduated in February, 2016, highlight the achievements of the group.
Meanwhile, as part of its efforts at continuous improvement and ensuring continued maintenance of the highest academic standards, PAMI is engaging with the US-based Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), created by professionals in the field, to organise, operate and develop accreditation systems for scientific and technical education programmes in order to meet international standards.
As a kick-off to the process, coordinated by PAMI, an ABET-appointed consultant, Professor Albert Joe Turner, Jr, Emeritus Professor at Clemson University, U.S.A recently conducted a training workshop, as part of the initial preparations for accreditation.
PAMI offered to share the experience with two other ACEs, the Centre of Excellence for Oilfield Chemicals and Research (CEFOR), University of Port Harcourt, and Department of Computer Science and Engineering, ObafemiAwolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The University of Port Harcourt was represented by Professor Joel Ogbonna, Director, Centre for Petroleum Research and Training, Institute of Petroleum Studies, University of Port Harcourt; Dr. Peter Kpolovie, Acting Director of Planning, Research and Control Unit and faculty members Dr. Julian Osuji, Plant Science and Biotechnology, Dr. UdumaIkpa, Institute of Petroleum Studies. Obafemi Awolowo University was represented by Professor Ganiyu Adesola Aderounmu, Department of Computer Science and Engineering and Drs. Alaofin Oluwatope, Ezekiel Ayowole Agbaje and Temitope Ajayi, faculty members in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. PAMI-AUST was represented by Professor Peter Azikiwe Onwualu, AUST Head of Materials Science and Engineering.
The workshop covered the major areas of focus for accreditation, including proper programme documentation, supporting high quality research, curriculum development and periodic review, and how to get adequate funding for the programs prior to accreditation.
According to him, the ABET Foundation only evaluates the performances submitted from the various institutions and does not involve itself in the routine running of programs prior to accreditation.
He strongly encouraged participants to pursue this, noting that, as of now, no Nigerian university has so far been accredited by ABET, hence the need for the ACES to work harder to get the ABET accreditation, in order to further distinguish themselves from the rest.