Oyo Health Commissioner, Dr. Ajetunmobi Bags ACS Award for Outstanding Performance in Government
The American Chemical Society (ACS) yesterday presented an Award of Excellence (Outstanding Performance in Government Category) to the Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Adewumi Ajetunmobi, in recognition of her significant contributions to the advancement of Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine (STEM) education and research in Nigeria.
The award was conferred by the Nigeria International Chemical Sciences Chapter of the American Chemical Society at the ongoing 11th Annual ACS Symposium, holding from 8th to 11th February, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. The symposium is themed “Emerging Technologies in Chemistry for Sustainable Development.”
Presenting the award, the organisers acknowledged Dr. Ajetunmobi’s leadership in promoting science-driven public health policies, research collaboration, and capacity development within the health sector, noting her role in bridging scientific innovation with governance and public welfare.
In her address at the symposium, Dr. Ajetunmobi described the gathering as “a meeting of purpose,” stressing that science is not merely an academic exercise but a critical tool for national development and human survival. She noted that scentific progress continues to shape health outcomes, improve longevity, and enhance overall quality of life through medical breakthroughs and technological innovations.
Dr. Ajetunmobi highlighted the central role of chemistry in scientific advancement, describing it as fundamental to life and essential to health, agriculture, food production, pharmaceuticals, environmental protection, and industrial development. She, however, cautioned against the growing public health risks associated with unsafe chemical exposure, environmental pollution, and plastic waste.
According to her, humans are increasingly exposed to harmful chemicals through polluted air, contaminated food and water, household products, pesticides, cosmetics, and industrial materials. She raised concern over recent studies showing the presence of micro- and nano-plastics in food items and drinking water, warning of the serious implications for food security and public health.
She also cited World Health Organization estimates attributing about 4.2 million annual deaths globally to ambient air pollution, alongside enormous economic losses due to healthcare costs and reduced productivity.
Dr. Ajetunmobi noted that the theme of the symposium aligns with the urgent need to deploy emerging chemical technologies responsibly, ensuring that development does not compromise human health or environmental safety. She urged scientists to remain innovative, ethical, and committed to using their expertise to serve humanity.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Oyo State Government under Governor Seyi Makinde, she said the state is ready to collaborate with scientific bodies to support innovation and drive policy reforms that protect lives. She disclosed that the Oyo State Ministry of Health maintains long-standing partnerships with tertiary institutions through research collaboration, workforce training, and student industrial programmes such as SIWES.
She further explained that the ministry serves as the secretariat of the Oyo State Food Safety Management Committee, a multi-sectoral platform designed to strengthen food and chemical safety regulation in line with global best practices, adding that the state is open to deeper collaboration with the ACS Nigeria Chapter.
At the national level, Dr. Ajetunmobi acknowledged recent efforts by the Federal Ministry of Health, including the approval of the National Guideline for Chemicals Event Surveillance and the launch of Nigeria’s first National Policy on Cosmetics and Health at the 66th National Council on Health Meeting in November 2025.
She described these developments as clear evidence of shared goals between government and scientific organisations in safeguarding public health, stressing that science must move beyond journals into policy, practice, and real-life protection for citizens.
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