Of the over 500 different industrial chemicals being utilized in the country, at least 70 are used as laboratory chemicals in secondary schools. These chemicals are imported in spite of the country’s comparative advantage in terms of availability of local raw materials to produce some of them. Consequently, huge amount of money foreign exchange is being expended on importation of these chemicals.

In order to address this challenge, Council in collaboration with the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, (NARICT) Zaria developed laboratory chemicals and reagents for schools. The first phase of the project resulted in the production of copper sulphate (CUSO₄) , a major chemical in textile dyes. One ton /day pilot plant for the production of analytical and technical grades of CuSO₄ was completed. The plant can also produce ferrous sulphate, ferrous magnesium sulphate, magnesium sulphate, ammonium sulphate etc. In addition locally fabricated distillation units were provided to secondary schools in Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina states to upgrade their laboratories. Thus, apart from savings in foreign exchange, when replicated, the project would generate employment.