By Joy Omagha Idam, Abuja ACHIEVER OF THE WEEK
The Chairman of Alfa Laboratories Limited, Mr Daniel Alifa Akoh, a native of Ugwolawo in Ofu Local Government Area in Kogi State and born in 1935, is a Fellow of the Chemical Society of Nigeria, CSN and a recipient of the Society’s Life Time Achievement Awards during its 36th Annual International Conference Workshop and Exhibition holding in Minna Niger State, from September 16th-19th 2013. He is being recognised for his dogged effort and sustained contributions in forty years to bring and maintain in our national consciousness the role of Chemistry and Allied Sciences in the Development of Nigeria and consistency over forty years.
His family knew very early in life how great he will turn out so they enrolled him at the prestigious at Qua Iboe Primary School, Ugwolawo, Provincial Middle School, Okene and University College Ibadan, finished in 1961, with B. Sc. special degree in Chemistry, of the University of London. Later studied Food and Drug Chemistry at Chelsea College, University of London and Advanced Management at the Royal Institute of Public Administration, London.
Federal Positions Held before retirement: Mr Akoh, the Chairman of Alfa Laboratories is a chartered chemist by profession. A retired civil servant, he was the first Director Food and Drug Administration and Laboratory Services (now NAFDAC), Federal Ministry of Health; Permanent Secretary Office of the Vice-President, Political and Police Affairs and Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, respectively. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Peugeot Automobile Company of Nigeria (PAN). He was also a President of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN). Mr Akoh was employed as Pupil Chemist in 1961 in the Ministry of Health, Kaduna and later on attachment at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in London . Completed professional training after a two-year period at Thomas MacLauchlan and Partners, Public Analysts and Industrial Chemists, in London .
Later transferred to the federal service and in 1970 promoted Federal Government Chemist, Federal Ministry of Health and subsequently, Director Food and Drugs Administration and Laboratory Services in the same ministry in 1977.
In 1982, was appointed Permanent Secretary and Pioneer Chief of Staff to the Vice- President. Served as Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office in charge of Police and Political Affairs and in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.
Retired from service in 1986 and has since established and been running a modest business as public analyst and industrial consultant.
Exploits as an outstanding member of the Chemical Society of Nigeria includes ; Coordinating efforts for the decongestion of the nation’s port in 1983. Representing the Ministry of Health on several Councils and Boards. Setting up and pioneering the administration of the office of the Vice President of Nigeria in 1983. Pioneering the food and drug administration and control in Nigeria . Coordinating efforts for the enabling law for environmental regulation in Nigeria . Coordinating efforts for the design and construction of major highways and bridges in Nigeria-examples include Ajaokuta Bridge , Ajaokuta-Otukpa and Ilorin-Jebba federal highways, several federal secretariats in the states as well as the Nigeria House in New York . He representing Nigeria for many years on international organisations including the Chemists Committee of the Customs Cooperation Council in Brussels and Codex Alimentarius in Rome .
Life after retirement: Mr. Akoh has had a very active post retirement life. As the President of Idah Divisional Development Association, he participated in the building of both educational and health institutions in his community. As a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, he was for a time involved in many states and federal political activities. At different times he has been member of the Board of Directors of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC; Chairman of Benro Packaging Company Limited, member of the Board of Directors of Peugeot Automobile Company of Nigeria ; President and Chairman of Council of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria.
Some Professional Affiliations: Mr. Akoh is a fellow of the following professional bodies: Royal Society of Chemistry of the United Kingdom, Chemical Society of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria, Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria. He is also a Chartered Chemist of the United Kingdom .
Awards received in the past: Mr Akoh has received the Professional Excellence Award of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, APBN. In 1995, he was conferred with the title Omachi Attah Igala by His Royal Majesty, Aliyu Obaje, the Attah Igala reigning at the time.
Life in Marriage balanced with Professional Career : He is married to Mrs. Mary Asimawo Akoh and they have four children. The marriage is 50 years old and in this period he told that he has never quarreled with his heart throb.
After retirement from Government Mr Akoh wished to give back to the Society and to employ labour and encourage young persons to study Chemistry hence in 1986 Alfa Laboratories Limited was incorporated in Nigeria on 25th April, 1986. Its main focus is in the provision of analytical and consulting services in the areas of quality assurance of food, drugs, cosmetics, water, chemicals, petroleum and petrochemicals industrial raw materials and related products. It also undertakes environmental consultancy services. The management team is headed by the Executive Chairman who through the General Manager, supervises the departmental heads, who in turn, are responsible for the day-to-day running of the company.
What is the Focus of Alfa Laboratories: The core business of the company can be grouped into three sections namely, Analytical, Environmental and Industrial Consulting services. The laboratories of the company are equipped with modern instruments and manned by highly qualified and experienced manpower, mostly chemists and microbiologists. Many of them are members of recognized professional bodies such as the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON) and the Nigeria Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST).
Do you render environmental services at Alfa Laboratories: Environmental services environmental impact assessment, environmental audit, baseline studies, environmental remediation, waste management, effluent discharge including gaseous emissions monitoring, analysis of drill cuttings and drilling muds and pesticides (formulation and residues). In most of these areas the company is licensed by appropriate authorities.
Alfa Laboratories is committed to success based on vision, fair play and the appropriate and responsible exploitation of resources always taking advantage of the growing frontiers of science and technology and according pride of place to the interests of our clients.
The ultimate goal of Alfa Laboratories is to attain a respectable status both nationally and internationally, as a profit-oriented consulting company. To this end the company shall continue to adequately fill the yearning gap in this part of the world for efficient and dependable industrial laboratory services through the use of highly trained and motivated staff as well as the latest appropriate technologies available.
Who are some of your major clients : Nigerian Bottling Company Plc, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Nestle Food Plc, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Chemical and Allied Products Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, Port-Harcourt, Nigerian Breweries, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Procter and Gamble Nigeria PLC, Ibadan, Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) (now defunct), Standards Organisation of Nigeria ( SON ), Port-Harcourt Refining Company Limited, Knight, Frank and Rutley, Roche Nigeria, Raw Material Research & Development Council (RMRDC), Leventis Foods Limited, Honeywell Flour Mills Limited, Promasidor Nigeria, Dansa Foods, Caraway Foods International Nigeria, GNLD International, Nikki Manufacturing Company , General Marine and Oil (GMO), Dangote Flour and Doyin Group of Companies to mention a few.
What message do you have for the Chemical society of Nigeria for the Life Time Award bestowed on you? I wish to appreciate the CSN because we have really come a long way and for them to single me out for the Long Time achievement Award i am very grateful to God, my family who have always stood by me and to CSN, I assure them that together we will continue to break more grounds.
Do you have any regrets in life ? No i do not have any regrets in life because i am accomplished in my profession and have received the highest honour any body can get in CSN. My children are accomplished and i have paid my dues in my community, my State and and at the Federal Level all i can say is thanks to God. Im retired but not tired I am ever ready to be of service to my fatherland and CSN whenever i am called upon.
Any message for young people in Nigeria to join the profession? Yes i call on young persons not to run away from sciences especially Chemistry it is a very noble profession and i urge as many as possible to enroll for the course.
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