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Studying Pure and Industrial Chemistry in Nigeria: Challenges & Job Opportunities
Sep 28, 2025
🧪 Thinking of studying Pure and Industrial Chemistry in Nigeria? This video breaks down everything you need to know about the course, from what to expect in class to career opportunities after graduation. Whether you’re a JAMB candidate, fresher, or just curious about the program, I’ll be sharing insights on the curriculum, challenges, job prospects, and real student experiences to guide your decision. 📌 In this video, you’ll learn: What Pure and Industrial Chemistry is all about The subjects you’ll study in Nigerian universities Skills you’ll develop during the course Challenges chemistry students face (and how to overcome them) Career opportunities after graduation in Nigeria and abroad If you’re passionate about science, industry, or research, this guide will help you understand if Pure and Industrial Chemistry is the right path for you. 👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more videos on Nigerian universities, courses, and student life.
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0:00
All right. Good afternoon, ladies.
0:01
What's your name, department, and level?
0:03
Okay.
0:04
My name is Veronica.
0:07
Um, I'm in pure industrial chemistry.
0:11
I'm in my final year.
0:12
Wow. Nice to meet you. What about you?
0:14
Okay. My name is
0:17
Pure and Industrial Chemistry 400 level.
0:20
Okay. Fun.
0:20
That is final year actually.
0:22
Wow. That is really nice. So can you
0:24
guys tell me what pure and industrial
0:26
chemistry is all about as a course in
0:29
the university?
0:33
Okay. Um pure industrial chemistry just
0:36
like the name entails. It's like where
0:39
you have two branch of chemistry. Pure
0:42
chemistry and industrial chemistry kind
0:44
of merged together as a study. So the
0:46
pure industrial the pure chemistry there
0:48
talks more about or focuses more on the
0:51
theoretical aspect of chemistry
0:54
when it has to do with acquiring
0:56
knowledge then the industrial chemistry
1:00
focuses more on the practical aspect
1:03
of chemistry.
1:04
Okay. Okay. So how many years is this
1:07
course uh here at the university? Okay,
1:10
for now on it's 4 years but with the
1:13
plans of the department they they want
1:16
to increase it to 5 years in order to
1:20
add it so that students can be you can
1:23
be going to it.
1:24
Okay.
1:25
Okay. Okay.
1:26
Yeah.
1:26
Okay. So why did you decide to study
1:29
pure and industrial chemistry?
1:31
Um
1:33
I'll be truthful.
1:34
Okay.
1:36
when I wanted to enter this university
1:38
as they say university of Nigeria you
1:40
know the hype that only university in
1:43
Nigeria so I actually wanted to study um
1:46
chemical engineering but this school was
1:49
not doing chemical engineering so they
1:51
say that the core and industrial
1:53
chemistry is actually chemical
1:55
engineering they doing basically
1:56
everything chemical engineering are
1:58
doing so I decided to apply for
2:00
industrial yeah
2:03
so So what's your in final year right?
2:07
Okay so from your first year till now
2:10
how has the courses been like how
2:12
challenging is this course?
2:15
Okay, if I'm being honest, I would not
2:17
really say it's an easy one. I won't say
2:20
it's an easy one because there's a lot
2:22
of rules in our department mostly based
2:25
on the well some of our courses are
2:28
proposites.
2:29
So when you fail them like let me say
2:32
for example in our first year um we had
2:35
our first semester we had chem 101.
2:37
Okay.
2:38
So going to our 200 level we do the
2:40
continuation of the course chem 2011. So
2:43
unfortunately if you fail chem one you
2:46
will not be able to write chem 2011. So
2:48
that's kind of an extra year not even
2:50
carry over extra year.
2:52
So that's quite challenging and with
2:54
that some of us have tried our best to
2:57
not fail the course at all.
2:59
Okay.
2:59
So aside that other courses are quite
3:02
relatable but being honest they are
3:05
quite challenging as well.
3:06
Okay. Okay. Let me quickly ask since the
3:09
course is play on industrial chemistry.
3:10
Is this just all about chemistry or it
3:13
entails physics, mathematics and other
3:16
science subjects?
3:18
We b a lot of courses. We bought a lot
3:21
of courses. Honestly, it's not really
3:22
just about chemistry. I feel like in a
3:24
way we are versatile. We both physics
3:26
courses
3:27
at some point even in our final year we
3:29
b mechanical engineering course that we
3:32
offered. In our second year, we both um
3:35
a foreign language course. I offered
3:38
German. My friend Yes. offered French.
3:41
So, we're kind of,
3:43
you know, versatile. So, yeah, that's
3:44
just
3:45
But you still remember any of the German
3:47
languages.
3:48
Is that the basics while
3:51
So, you can you can still speak French.
3:55
Okay. So, Pan industrial chemistry, it
3:58
it means you have to be very good in
3:59
chemistry, right?
4:01
Yes. Okay.
4:02
And you have to have a good um
4:05
foundation in chemistry.
4:07
Okay.
4:08
Because I want to ask if for a student
4:10
that did not get a very good foundation
4:12
in secondary school if it's possible to
4:14
do well in this course.
4:16
Yes. I would say it's it will be
4:18
possible but it has to take the person's
4:21
determination to do extra work.
4:23
Okay.
4:24
Because this you have to go back work on
4:26
your background then start building from
4:29
there.
4:30
Yeah. It will it will work but you
4:33
you'll be willing to do extra work.
4:34
Okay. Okay. So have you engaged in any
4:37
apart from academics are you engaged in
4:39
other things like extracurricular
4:41
activities a side hustle?
4:44
We yeah not really side hustle but I
4:46
have extracurricular activities
4:48
mostly in church. I'm a member of the
4:50
choir.
4:51
Okay. Okay. So yeah,
4:52
because the reason why I'm asking is I
4:54
want to see if it's possible to combine
4:56
a business, a activity like your church
4:59
with your your cause like what
5:02
relationship how is it?
5:04
I feel like this depends on the person
5:07
just like she said the determination is
5:09
also here and even discipline
5:13
and it also depends on the person. If
5:15
you're somebody that can handle
5:17
different things at the same time,
5:19
you can handle it. But if you're
5:20
somebody that you have to take your time
5:22
to do some things, then you don't really
5:24
have to juggle a lot of things to be
5:26
able to be study pure industrial
5:29
chemistry.
5:30
I just I get you. I get you. I get you.
5:33
So, have you had any challenging
5:34
experience like from your first year to
5:36
now? What level would you say is the
5:38
most difficult and maybe any challenging
5:40
experience?
5:41
Yeah, I would say that my first year was
5:46
the most difficult. Reason being that I
5:48
came into school very naive, not knowing
5:53
my lefts, right and center or not
5:56
knowing where to start from and I
5:58
resumed late. So it's actually affected
6:01
my results in
6:04
first year,
6:04
the first year. So that's basically my
6:08
worst year for me. Then my best year
6:12
um in terms of academics is actually 400
6:16
level because now I I got to understand
6:20
the ways um they set their exams.
6:23
Yeah. How they want you to answer their
6:25
questions and all because it's not all
6:28
about just knowing the course. You have
6:31
to know your lecturers.
6:32
Yeah. It's necessary you study your
6:34
lecturers
6:35
because that's the only way you can do
6:37
very well. Even though you know some
6:39
chemistry, you have to know your
6:40
lecturers so as to answer their their
6:42
exams, their questions correctly. So
6:46
this 100 level has been my best. Yeah.
6:48
Yeah.
6:49
Wow. Wonderful. Wonderful. So since we
6:51
are still talking about academics, uh
6:54
what has been your study strategy, you
6:57
know, for you to for you to really be
6:58
able to pass because for you to be in
7:00
final year, it means something.
7:02
[Music]
7:04
my study strategy
7:06
uh mostly just like she said
7:11
always be in class to be able to know
7:14
how your lecturers like whenever you're
7:16
in class you'll understand the things
7:18
that the lecturer will ponder on more
7:22
and someday you would know where to
7:23
focus on
7:25
for the exams to prepare well for the
7:27
exams then aside that it's also left on
7:29
you to go deep
7:32
make your research and find out so that
7:35
you'll be able to understand the course.
7:36
Cuz one thing about chemistry is if you
7:38
don't really understand how some
7:41
equations are,
7:42
you just have to just cram them. So if
7:44
you know how this thing is starting and
7:46
what the end will be like, you would
7:48
know how to manipulate your ways till
7:50
the end. So that's just
7:52
it's just about having a proper
7:53
understanding of
7:54
the reaction, the basic reactions for
7:56
some impressions and all of that. Yes.
7:59
So what about you? Do you used to go for
8:00
Okay, add what you want to say. To add
8:02
to what she has said, you have to start
8:05
reading early. That's issues. Read
8:08
early. Even if you don't understand the
8:10
concept while reading, maybe before the
8:12
class or before full resumption, when
8:15
you come to class, you understand faster
8:17
than people that did not read before
8:19
attending the class and it will help you
8:21
to move faster. So I recommend read
8:24
before going to class, read after class.
8:27
Yes, I recommend that. These are the
8:30
strategy you use and attend class.
8:32
Okay,
8:32
very necessary in chemistry department.
8:34
You can you might not attend class in
8:37
other department and still pass.
8:38
But in chemistry department, you have to
8:40
attend class for you to make a good
8:42
grade.
8:42
Okay.
8:43
Yeah. Because it's when you're in class
8:45
that you actually know what the lecturer
8:48
wants you to write for her.
8:51
Yes.
8:54
Okay. Let me just use for an example.
8:56
the lecturer maybe the lecturer ask you
8:58
what is a no you can you can tell
9:01
yourself I already know what a mo is now
9:04
from different text books but this
9:06
lecture might just tell you okay this is
9:08
what I want you to write this is the
9:09
basic thing if I don't see it in your
9:11
answer you're going to fail so and if
9:13
you're not in class you're not going to
9:14
get that
9:16
that idea so it's necessary you be in
9:19
class read before coming to class read
9:21
after class and don't cram
9:23
try to like chemistry try to love
9:26
chemistry. So that's the only way I
9:28
think you can do well.
9:30
Interesting because this is just made me
9:32
remember when I was in first year my 101
9:35
I used to go to class. So but in class
9:38
the lecture was just like know this know
9:39
that. So those that will not come for
9:41
the class they go and read the whole
9:42
material and nothing will come out. It's
9:45
just that particular thing the lecture
9:47
will say know this and and comes out. So
9:49
it makes all about ninth class. You guys
9:52
don't go for ninth classes.
9:53
I don't know. Um, night class don't work
9:55
for me. Okay.
9:56
Yeah, it don't work for me. I prefer
9:58
being in my lodge. I sleep early at
10:01
times,
10:02
wake up in the night and read and when I
10:05
feel tired, I sleep back.
10:08
Yeah. Because I don't know for other
10:09
persons, but when I'm tired and I'm
10:12
feeling sleepy, I don't used to get
10:14
anything. I will not achieve sleeping
10:17
and I will not achieve reading. So, I
10:20
don't want to lose in both side. I
10:21
usually sleep well then wake up to mid.
10:24
Okay.
10:25
But yeah, if night class works for you
10:28
go.
10:29
Yeah.
10:30
So does it work for you? Nice class.
10:33
I can do all night in my house
10:35
but not necessarily going out.
10:37
So just about understanding what works
10:40
for you.
10:40
Yes. Yes.
10:42
So how lucrative is this course? What
10:44
are the opportunities that are available
10:47
after graduation?
10:51
Well, if I'm being honest, there are a
10:53
lot of opportunities in chemistry. But
10:55
chemistry is like everywhere. Even in
10:58
courts, they can fight chemistry when it
11:00
comes to criminal cases that has to do
11:02
with drugs.
11:03
Okay?
11:04
It's only a chemistry that can be able
11:05
to identify which drug, if this drug is
11:07
really illegal or not illegal, stuff
11:09
like that.
11:10
Okay.
11:10
So, it's versatile. It's almost
11:12
everywhere. Just that you know how
11:14
Nigeria take now. So
11:17
mostly I feel like where you will see
11:19
more opportunities is outside
11:21
outside the country. Outside the country
11:22
based on how our country is right now is
11:24
mostly outside. Yeah. So
11:26
yeah understand you want to add
11:27
something?
11:28
Okay. I would say that chemistry is a
11:30
very good course and it's very
11:32
versatile. But for me this this
11:35
generation of um tech
11:38
if you are able to add tech knowledge to
11:41
your to chemistry you you actually go
11:45
wide.
11:45
Wow. Impressive.
11:46
Because of recent I got to understand
11:48
that you can actually introduce AI and
11:51
machine learning to chemistry.
11:54
Yeah. Because of recent they started
11:56
producing drug. As a chemist we
11:58
necessarily
11:59
um introduce new compounds actually.
12:02
Actually we are working on that in my
12:03
project we make a new compound that can
12:07
be used for drug design and in last uh
12:11
in our last seminar somebody actually
12:12
worked on drug design
12:15
where the person understood that you can
12:18
actually use AI to make your work easier
12:21
and if you are able and versatile in AI
12:24
you can actually create algorithm that
12:26
can help you as a chemist and it to just
12:29
be your algorithm chemistry algorithm.
12:31
So it's if someone can actually combine
12:34
AI, machine learning to chemistry,
12:36
yes,
12:37
I think something that can actually go
12:39
wide.
12:40
Right. That is very very interesting. My
12:42
next question is what advice do you have
12:46
for someone that wants to study
12:49
uh pure and industrial chemistry. In
12:51
some schools is pure chemistry, some
12:53
schools is pure and uh industrial
12:55
chemistry. But a school like UN is pure
12:57
and industrial chemistry. So the
12:59
students have gotten admission for this
13:00
course. What advice would you give to
13:02
that person?
13:04
Okay, from my perspective,
13:07
um my advice would be if you want to
13:09
study pure industrial chemistry in UN
13:12
cuz I don't know about other school,
13:15
you have to attend classes.
13:16
Okay.
13:17
Like like our lecture will always say if
13:20
you attend classes, he's sure that you
13:22
are going to pass.
13:23
Yes.
13:23
If you attend classes and listening to
13:24
the lecturer, you you surely pass just
13:28
like pass. But if you want to round more
13:29
that's still left to you attend classes
13:32
so that you have extra you have a basic
13:34
knowledge before you can get the extras
13:37
then others is
13:39
try to read more on that particular
13:41
course
13:42
okay
13:43
that was handled or that day read more
13:46
on that course prepare for your exam
13:48
even before the time comes
13:50
prepare for your exam before the time
13:51
comes so that you know exam day you
13:53
don't need to
13:55
you get that writing. So that's
13:57
you start reading here and they will
13:59
fall sick and everything. Okay. Okay.
14:02
You want to add anything to this or
14:03
I would say um I would say that are you
14:07
coming to study industrial chemistry for
14:09
the money?
14:11
If it's for the money and the quick
14:13
maybe you want a quick money
14:16
I'll say that you might not get a quick
14:18
money
14:20
as you think but if you are very good
14:24
and that's why I'm saying that
14:27
you should be somebody that will be able
14:29
to combine tech and chemistry because
14:31
the world is going vaster and be able to
14:34
start putting yourself out there.
14:37
Yeah. Start putting what you can do out
14:39
there. actually you can actually start
14:40
building your LinkedIn
14:43
that you are a researcher.
14:45
Yeah. Because um my sponsor was telling
14:48
us that he was able to leave the country
14:50
and do his PhD in 2 months. Something
14:54
that would have taken him like 2 years
14:56
to do in Nigeria
14:58
because he was able to make research
15:01
look for people that need his work.
15:05
That's the topic he was working on.
15:07
visit outside the country, send them an
15:09
email telling them that he's working on
15:11
this particular topic and he can
15:13
actually offer them a help
15:15
for them to complete it. They actually
15:18
saw his email and ask him to come over.
15:21
They sponsored everything. So if you are
15:24
the type that says the internet does not
15:26
matter, you can actually you just be
15:28
here finish and local
15:30
and just be carrying file all about. So
15:34
my advice is that if you're coming to
15:35
study industrial chemistry, be prepared
15:37
for the shape.
15:39
Okay. First first
15:40
first prepare for the shape because it's
15:42
not easy. At the same time be wide, be
15:45
versatile so that you not just finish
15:48
the study and people will be like he's
15:50
he's not a graduate and he's not doing
15:52
anything.
15:54
Yeah.
15:55
Okay. So uh can you describe the typical
15:58
day of an industrial chemistry or pure
16:01
industrial chemistry students? Like when
16:04
do you come for your lectures? Uh when
16:07
do you go home? Do you guys come for
16:09
lectures every day on weekends? Like
16:11
what is your day like as a student in
16:13
this department?
16:14
Okay.
16:16
Okay. For me personally, my day is
16:19
always filled up. Like most times I
16:22
prepare as early as 8:00 a.m.
16:24
Okay. and I'll be going back home around
16:26
9:00 p.m. based on my other activities.
16:31
Yes. So, just like I said, we prepare as
16:34
early as 8:00 and start coming to
16:36
classes cuz most times you might come to
16:37
class and you feel like if the class is
16:39
by night, you can come by 9:10. As you
16:41
are coming, the door is locked already
16:43
and you cannot enter.
16:44
Even during afternoon hours, if you
16:47
don't enter the class before the
16:48
lecture, you will not be able.
16:50
Yes.
16:51
You will not be you will not be able to
16:53
enter the classes. So as for me uh petro
16:57
chemistry students my day is always
17:00
filled up like we hardly have
17:02
free time
17:02
and for oursel even on weekends we are
17:05
lecturers we are fit classes exactly so
17:08
we don't really really have time for
17:10
ourselves so to say we don't really have
17:13
time for ourselves
17:14
okay so what would you describe a
17:15
typical day like
17:17
um
17:19
I'll say it's filled with chemistry a
17:22
day filled up with chemisture
17:24
Yeah, it come come out very early for
17:26
people like coming for people that like
17:28
coming out. Okay. Actually, it's neat.
17:30
Me I I used to wake up very early uh
17:34
prepare at most be here by 8 a.m.
17:38
Okay.
17:39
At times go back 700 p.m.
17:42
Okay. Plus other activities. No, in this
17:45
this class in this departmental
17:49
chemistry go back 7:00 p.m. But that I
17:51
would say most of times is not because
17:54
of the lectures. It's because of my uh
17:57
lecturer and supervisor that would like
17:59
me to do something but generally there
18:02
are times lectures don't end by 5:00
18:04
p.m. 4:00 p.m. and we don't have classes
18:07
during weekend. Yeah. Intense class.
18:10
When I mean intense, sometimes from 9:00
18:12
a.m. to 2 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. and all on
18:16
Saturdays.
18:17
So, it's always very hectic.
18:20
Wow. Wow. So, thank you very much. I
18:22
really appreciate you guys and we wish
18:24
you guys success in your exams and in
18:28
your future endeavors. All right. Thank
18:31
you very much.
18:32
Thanks.