By Olatunbosun Obafemi
Nigerian scientist and PhD researcher, Dr. Reuben Kabantiyok, has gained international recognition for his groundbreaking work in materials science and nanotechnology, aimed at solving some of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges in defence, water access, healthcare, and waste recycling.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Kabantiyok, a metallurgical and materials engineer at the University of Tulsa, USA, explained that his research focuses on creating smarter and more sustainable materials, particularly for use in developing countries like Nigeria. A major part of his work is the enhancement of a shape-memory alloy known as nickel-titanium (Nitinol), which he believes can be adapted to suit Nigeria’s harsh climate and terrain for both civilian and military applications.
“Many of our current materials aren’t built for local conditions. We must engineer with our terrain, climate, and people in mind,” he said. He advocates using Nigeria’s vast raw materials – including brass, bauxite, and steel waste – to support homegrown defence manufacturing. He has shared this vision with local firms like Imperium Industries in Kaduna, which is investing in military-grade hardware production. He also highlighted the role of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in building a sustainable military-industrial complex.
In the water sector, Kabantiyok is working with Schrödinger Technologie Nigeria to deploy low-cost, nano-engineered filtration systems in underserved rural communities. These systems are designed to remove heavy metals, microbes, and other contaminants from water sources with minimal maintenance.
He is also developing eco-friendly composites from agricultural and industrial waste—including chicken feathers, snail shells, and palm kernel husks—for use in packaging, construction, and environmental cleanup.
In healthcare, his work on improving the fatigue life of Nitinol-based cardiovascular implants aims to reduce the need for repeat surgeries in heart patients, especially in low-resource settings.
Kabantiyok called on the Nigerian government to invest in nanomaterials laboratories across tertiary institutions, stressing that Nigeria has the talent, resources, and urgent problems—what’s missing is the infrastructure and commitment to build research systems that work for its context.
