Adeyinka Akinbami, The distinguished chemical technologist with outstanding accomplishments

Few days ago there was shortage of fuel and while it was quite difficult getting it because various petrol stations weren’t selling, I observed a queue at Ascon filling station and decided to join in. One after the other, we all filled our tanks and we were glad the station opened up to help. As I was about taking my ATM card to pay, I saw the complimentary card of the person who happens to be my ‘date’ for this week and I thought to myself “Whao! What a coincidence. I am at the station where the company he works for owns”.

I reminisced on my first encounter with him and I remember clearly how he spoke intelligently with confidence at an event at LBS where I also attended to moderate a panel. We exchanged pleasantries and complimentary cards and like they say, ‘the rest is history’, glad to say the interview was indeed an intriguing one. Adeyinka Akinbami graces these pages this week.

Akinbami is an accomplished Chemical Technologist. He has received several awards for his outstanding and remarkable accomplishments in the fields of science. He was admitted as a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Technology in 1985 at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. Since then, he has continued to blaze a trail in that field through his extensive work and research.

His work experience spans 2 decades. He’s worked with APP Chemicals, UK where his work led to the discovery of a unique chemical catalyst. After sometime in Lenoil, he rose to become the Vice-president of Zenon Oil. His work has contributed greatly to the body of knowledge in chemical technology and science. He is currently the General Manager, Lubes and Specialties at Ascon Oil.

Adeyinka was born in Lagos, on Lagos Island, just over 56years ago on the 9th of October, 1958. his parents, both deceased now were AdetunjiAdejumobi Akinbami and Esther Aderoju Akinbami and he is the second of six children; 3 males and 3 females. He grew up in a closely knitted family with abundant love showered on the children by both parents. “We were not very rich and I won’t also say we were poor. We got by. I went to a Baptist mission primary school. All that helped to shape my childhood. So in essence, I was raised in a Christian household and attended a Christian primary school helping to lay a Godly foundation for me.” He says adding that “It was also discovered early that I was a gifted child who topped my class regularly. That also raised a lot of hope in my parents hence expectations from my life were quite high. The net result was that I found myself needing to work hard and study hard to achieve the desired results. Therefore, hard work, fear of God, being considerate and more were virtues I believe that were instilled in me from my childhood.” Adeyinka shares.

Adeyinka’s scholastic aptitude showed forth from his childhood like and he finished ‘form 5’ as the best all-rounder student and that had its challenges because he could do virtually anything. His dad however wanted him to be a Medical Doctor however; going to the University of Ife changed everything. Hear him tell more “I went straight from form 5 into the Unife preliminary school. I was admitted into the sciences and not the Medical School I had wanted. I was not able to change back into Medicine so I got stuck with the sciences. I finished among the top 3 in Biochemistry at the University of Ife, with an Upper Second Class degree in 1979. Unife was tough and the Biochemistry course was particularly tough.”

“That however prepared me to take a drastic decision to change study lines. While studying Biochemistry, my scholastic strength in Mathematics, Quantum Chemistry, Catalysis, Thermodynamics and Chemical Kinetics all showed up. I decided, to change courses from Biochemistry into Chemical Technology. That change happened through the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). I was awarded a Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) scholarship in 1981 which enabled me pursue the MSc Tech program at UMIST.” He revealed.

While at UMIST Adeyinka became the best MSc student in his set and got awarded the Herbert Steiner Prize of the University. Three other scholarships now followed; The Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals Award of the United Kingdom (CVCP) 1982-1985, The University of Manchester PhD studentship award (1982-1985) and the British Petroleum PhD CASE award for 1983-1985. His research work at the MSc stage covered the Conversion of Grass and Cellulosic Materials to Crude Oil (Oil From Biomass). Then he changed research lines again for his PhD. He went into Catalysis being an area he loved.  “I specialized in Ziegler-Natta Catalysis for the production of High Density Polyethlene and Linear-Low Density Polyethylene. I got my PhD in 1985. Now a PhD, I went onto Post-Doctoral research in the production of Atactic-Polypropylene for the manufacture of bituminous roofing felts for a company called APP Chemicals, United Kingdom. This went on from 1985-1988.

While on the work I made a discovery of a highly active Catalyst for the development of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear-lowdensity polyethylene (LLDPE).”

After this, Adeyinka came back to Nigeria in December 1988. He got his first employment with LENOIL Petroleum and Petrochemicals. That was the first indigenous company to go into Lubricant Production in Nigeria. He therefore became an indigenous pioneer of sorts in lubricant engineering, formulation and production. “We essentially broke the monopoly of the multinationals in the lubricant sub-sector of the oil industry way back in 1990. That pioneering work has given rise to the many indigenous lubricant blenders we have in the country today.” He reveals.

I sought to know from Adeyinka on what makes ASCON Oil tick and his decision to join them and his response said it all. Again, he speaks “Within ASCON Oil are serious professionals who operate in the fear of God led by Grace Olowofoyeku, a barrister. I found in ASCON a people who are striving for excellent service delivery in every aspect of the Nigerian Oil Industry without comprising in quality, integrity and business ethics. I actually relocated my family to Canada in 2010 and ASCON Oil invited me back in 2011 to start their lubricant business. I came in first as a Consultant Tribologist (Lube Engineer) and it has metamorphosed into full time employment.” He tells me in a tone of fulfillment.” He states.

I believe there are untapped areas in the oil and gas sector that the Nigerian government is not totally focused on and I know it can be of immense benefit to the nation. I guessed right because Akinbami’s response reveals this when he says “I am a petrochemical expert, our petrochemical sector is in its very infant stage. I have my quarrels with the policy makers in this regard. I do not understand for the life of me how PTDF will train experts in a field and thereafter not bother about how they are absorbed to contribute to the development of the sector. I am one person who suffered that fate.”

“How the United Kingdom sought after me as an expert in my area and my country hardly noticed I existed is pretty sad. Effective utilization of our national human resource in the Oil and Gas sector is the first area that we need to focus on. Much emphasis had been placed on Exploration and Production of Crude Oil which is fine. That however is just the beginning of the entire process. That is how come we are such an object of laughter across the world. We have so much gas and so much crude oil yet we import refined products and petrochemical products into the country.” Akinbami opens up.

“We need to step fully into the petrochemical sector taking by-products of the refinery and starting to manufacture chemical products from there. We are also very rich in bitumen. There are several chemical products that can be obtained from bitumen refining as well. We should stop playing lip service to research and development and move onto actual employment of research and development to advance our nation. No nation really develops without an actual utilization of research and development in all aspects of human endeavour.” He adds.

There is a general belief especially among majority of youths that making it big will happen fast if one goes into the oil and gas sector. Hear Akinbami’s response to this “Really they are not to blame. What else do you want them to do when even as a nation 90-95% of our national revenue also comes from that sector? The government and policy makers ought to have stirred the course of our nation over the years to provoke and inspire development in other areas. Had that been done, we probably won’t find ourselves where we are as a nation today. It is however not too late. The recent crash in oil price with the resultant further devaluation of the naira is probably the most needed wake up call to all Nigerians to shift focus from oil and develop the potentials in other sectors. Nigeria is abundantly blessed.” He says.

Though a chemical technologist, Akinbami has an unswerving passion for service to God. “I serve God ministering to families. I am a co-director (with my wife) of the Family Life Directorate at the House On The Rock. So I work with God in founding and establishing Godly families. I have been in this aspect of ministry since 1995. God called me into His ministry in 1992. I believe through this work lives are being impacted.”

Ardent about the downstream sector, Akinbami says “I feel like I am called to the downstream sector of the Nigerian Oil & Gas industry especially the lubricant sub-sector and petrochemicals in general. There are several needs in the sub-sector starting from 100% importation of raw materials when we are so rich in crude oil, natural gas and bitumen. I am looking forward to an opportunity to make immense contribution to our development through this part of me that is constantly bubbling and waiting for expression.” He admits.

Asked what he would say if he stood before a sea of people completely discouraged and needed words of encouragement and he says “As long as you have life in you, God is not through with you. There is a reason God has kept you and preserved you. Connect to God and He will begin to order your steps into the special purpose for which He created you. Everyone is special and each one needs to be led by our Creator into that specialty.”

KEMI AJUMOBI