The University of Lagos (UNILAG), through its Institute of Maritime Studies (IMS), has commenced hands-on training to teach students how to operate the Anton Paar Multiwave Go Plus Microwave Digestion System, a new scientific instrument.
The training was for final-year and PhD students in the Faculty of Science. It taught them how to prepare samples correctly for research. This step is crucial because even the best machines can yield incorrect results if the samples are not adequately prepared.
The new machine, purchased with support from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), can prepare up to 12 samples in just 20 minutes. This is much faster and more accurate than older methods, which could take a whole day. It also uses fewer resources and can handle up to 3 grams of material per container.
This advanced equipment is the first of its kind on the University of Lagos’s campus. It is now set up in the IMS NIMASA Laboratory, along with a new fume hood. The equipment will be used not only by IMS but also by other faculties, research centres, and laboratories that need fast and reliable sample preparation.
To ensure students learn how to use the machine correctly, Synapse Technologies Limited, the official supplier, conducted a comprehensive training session. The students were taught about the machine’s operation and its applications in various fields, including environmental science, food safety, marine research, chemistry, and pharmaceuticals.
During the training, students practised how to load samples, select the correct settings, and operate the machine. There was also a Q&A session, where experts answered the students’ questions, giving them more confidence to use the machine.
Professor Abiodun Mary Odukoya, Director of the Institute of Maritime Studies, expressed pleasure with the training. She stated that the new equipment would help improve research and ensure more accurate scientific findings. “Every good scientific result starts with a well-prepared sample,” she said. With this new step, UNILAG is showing its strong commitment to promoting quality research and innovation and preparing students to become world-class scientists.
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