What this life looks like
You unlock the secrets of matter. Chemists study the properties, composition, and transformations of substances — from discovering new drug molecules to developing better fertilisers to analysing water quality. Chemistry is the central science that connects biology, physics, materials science, and engineering.
What she actually does
You design and conduct experiments in laboratory settings, analyse the composition of substances using instruments such as spectrophotometers and chromatographs, synthesise new chemical compounds, quality-test products in manufacturing, develop and validate analytical methods, interpret data, and write scientific reports.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical Companies | Aspen Pharmacare, Cipla Quality Chemical Uganda, May & Baker Nigeria — quality and synthesis |
| Food & Beverage | Nestlé Africa, Tiger Brands, East African Breweries — quality assurance and food safety |
| Oil & Gas | Shell, TotalEnergies, NNPC — petrochemical and refining analysis |
| Government Labs | NAFDAC Nigeria, KEBS Kenya, SABS South Africa — standards and regulatory testing |
Why it matters in Africa
Africa's pharmaceutical, food, mining, oil, and agricultural industries all depend on chemists. Quality control in food and medicine, environmental monitoring, mineral analysis, and drug development all require chemical expertise that is in high demand across the continent.
Your pathway in
- Excel in Chemistry and Mathematics at school — they are the core foundations
- Pursue a degree in Chemistry or Chemical Sciences at university
- Develop strong laboratory skills during your degree programme
- Consider specialisations: analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, or industrial chemistry
- Pursue postgraduate research for academic or advanced industrial research careers
Skills you will need
- Laboratory techniques (titration, spectroscopy, chromatography)
- Analytical instrumentation
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Chemical safety and hazard management
- Scientific writing
- Quality management systems
A woman in this field
Prof. Marian Asantewah Nkansah
Ghana
Marian is an Associate Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Her groundbreaking research focuses on identifying toxic substances—such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants—in food, water, and soil. Her work has directly influenced environmental health policies in Ghana, particularly regarding the safety of drinking water and edible clays. She is the winner of the 2021 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award for Women Scientists in the Developing World.
Take your first step
- Study Chemistry at school as deeply as you can — work to understand both theory and laboratory practice
- Research chemistry degree programmes at universities in your country
- Find out if your school or a nearby university has a chemistry club or laboratory you can visit
- Follow the Chemical Society of Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, or your national chemistry society online
Careers close to this one
- Biochemist
- Chemical Engineer
- Pharmaceutical Scientist
- Environmental Scientist
- Materials Scientist