NAME OF ESTABLISHMENT: RESEARCH PRODUCTION CLUSTER, UNIVERSITY PRODUCTION PROCESS
HISTORY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT: In 2015, I, Professor Christopher Chukwutoo Ihueze and My research group among whom are Dr. Christian Emeka Okafor, Dr. M. Chizoba Obele and Engr. Jubrilla won the PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FUND (PTDF) OIL AND GAS COMPPETITION to design and develop oil and gas pipeline using plantain fibre reinforced high density polyethylene (PFRHDPE). This gant attracted some production machines such as injection molding machine, plastic crushing machine, plastic and masterbatch mixing machine. This research attracted two patents in 2023.
As the research was about ending in 2018 I approached the then Vice Chancellor of my University (NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA), PROF. JOSEPH EBERENDU AHANEKU (FAS) on the need to have plastic production line with the facilities obtained through the grant. This move gave bath to the establishment of the University Production Process (UPP). The current Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Charles Esimone(FAS) and the Former bursar, Mrs Joy Ojukwu were given the responsibility of the establishment of the plastic production line of the UPP.
On the commencement of this unity, which started with the production of three plastic articles namely, university cup(UNIZIK CUP -1), university bowl(UNIZIK P-1) and the university saucer( UNIZIK-P2). One important remark to make is that these products are selling and today we are not meeting the market demands of our cup and bowl.
As the cost of virgin plastic raw material continues to increase, we did not relent in moving further into creating wealth through wastes. We are now recycling wastes of plastic products into useful materials for reproduction. The current university management under Prof. Charles Esimone is sponsoring the importation of SJ-100C recycling machine which will be used in producing reprocessed plastic pellets for injection molded and blow molded plastic products.