INTRODUCTION

Chemistry is one of the basic sciences and with a unique peculiarity. It is the fulcrum on which other science-based disciplines such as biology, physics, engineering, medicine, health sciences, agriculture and environmental sciences anchor. Life revolves around this subject and it is an indispensible prerequisite subject which every candidate aspiring to study any of the above mentioned disciplines must have a credit pass at O’ Level. The Industrial Chemistry programme is therefore designed to train students to acquire broad-based scientific principles and useful applications of chemical knowledge in material processing, conversion, transformation and recycling of renewable wastes to ensure sustainable environment, economic growth and development of the State and the Society in general. The undergraduate training programme encompasses coursework with the requisite practical, research and industrial work experience (SIWES) needed to equip the students for independent study and application of acquired knowledge of Industrial Chemistry, including the emerging trends in green chemistry, green technology and nano-sciences.

HISTORY OF THE PROGRAMME/DISCIPLINE

The Department of Industrial Chemistry, Ebonyi State University is among the pioneer departments of the then Faculty of Applied and Natural Sciences (FANS) established in 1998 which split into two Faculties namely; Faculty of Physical Sciences (FPS) and Faculty of Biological Sciences (FBS) in 2008. Following the restructuring of Faculties and Departments, which merged the Faculties of physical and biological sciences, the Department is now under the Faculty of Science effective from 2014. The Department was established to contribute meaningfully to the industrial development and socio-economic growth of Ebonyi State in particular and Nigeria in general in the areas of chemical technology, solid mineral processing, industrial and environmental sustainability and safety. This is informed by the geo-chemical resources potential of the State. Besides, the Department has the mandate of producing graduates in Industrial Chemistry as well as provides service courses for other cognate departments in the Faculties of Health, Medical, Agricultural, Science and Educational Sciences as well as Entrepreneurial studies. The Department’s core mandate is teaching and research. Through these past years, the department has produced over 500 students with B.Sc. (Industrial Chemistry) with four first class and many second class upper divisions. Most of these graduates have found gainful employment in different sectors of the economy and many of them are either engaged or have completed postgraduate programmes in different specialized areas of chemistry. Some of the academic, technical and administrative staff has been engaged in one form of staff development programme or the other. Several research publications, manuals, books and other technical reports have been produced in the department over these years with a giant stride in Patent obtained by one the Academic Staff.

Philosophy
The focus of the Department of Industrial Chemistry is to contribute practically and meaningfully towards the development and upliftment of Ebonyi State and her citizens against hunger, ignorance, poverty, disease and unemployment through collaborative research and innovations. To achieve this corporate philosophy, we have set for ourselves the following vision and mission statements and a set of specific objectives.

Vision Statement
To be a model in research and innovation with sound teaching and learning geared towards graduating students with sound moral and expertise to compete favourably with the 21st century science and technology - based institutions in the world.

Mission Statement
To build an academically sound Department focused on providing creative solutions to the manpower and industrial needs of Ebonyi State and the larger society with absolute commitment to solving the problem of poverty, hunger and unemployment.

OBJECTIVES
The Department of Industrial Chemistry is committed to achieving the following objectives:

1. Provision of dependable graduates who can be self-reliant and be gainfully self-employed or employable in all areas of Science, Medicine, Health, Agriculture, Engineering, Manufacturing, Marketing, Administration and other industrial concerns.
2. Provision of quality Environmental, Industrial and Chemical Analysts to undertake the safety, health and security challenges of the society in terms of production of goods and services.
3. Provision of manpower needs to address the economic and social problems of the immediate communities, the state and the nation at large.
4. Provision of ethically sound and practical-oriented professionals that would through research and innovations provide practical solutions to the emerging challenges of chemical and allied industries in the country.

Opportunities, Employment Outfits and Consultancy Services
A graduate of industrial chemistry department can be gainfully employed in any of the following employment opportunities anywhere in the world. They include;

1. Quality control/sample analysis and evaluation laboratories
2. Fresh and waste water effluent analysis and evaluation
3. Analysis of industrial samples: minerals, drugs, foods, drinks, ceramics, paints, perfumery, petroleum products, petrochemicals, fertilizer, cement, soil analysis etc.
4. Solid mineral beneficiation and determination.
5. Environmental impact assessment and monitoring
6. Consultancy services on industrial, agricultural and biomass waste recycling into bio-fuels
7. Training workshops on entrepreneurial skills acquisition in:
- Small scale commercial production of cosmetics, perfumes, powders, creams, pomades, shampoos, detergents, shoe polish, dyes, candles, etc.
- Home based water treatment techniques for potable water requirements.
There is no aspect of life endeavors a chemist is not relevant, for everything including live sustainability, pharmacy, energy, security, transport, food and industrial raw materials revolves around the ingenuity of the chemist.