University don suggest remedy to tackle corrosion

A Professor of physical and materials chemistry in the Department of Pure and industrial Chemistry, University of Calabar, Prof. Peter Chukwuma Okafor have revealed that his research efforts are focused on understanding the mechanism, inhibition and modelling of corrosion processes and environmental pollution as it relates to corrosion.

Okafor made the assertion at the 150th inaugural lecture titled, “Taming the Silent Destroyer, Harnessing Sustainability to Combat Corrosion”, held Monday 17th November 2025 at Godswill Akpabio international Conference Centre University of Calabar.

He said that any environment that contains electrolyte and medium that allows electrochemical reactions to occur on a metal surface thus aiding corrosion is a corrosion environment. He said that by understanding how environment and metal properties influence corrosion, one could develop effective strategies to manage and prevent corrosion since corrosion cannot be stopped but it’s size and impact can be controlled.

“It is often not possible to assign a single, universal mechanism to an inhibitor, as the mechanism may change with experimental conditions” he said.

Among the dignitaries at the occasion was Prof. Florence Banku Obi, Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar and other principal

By: Archibong Emmanuel

(Snr. Reporter)