Ahmad Tijani Akanni Azeez is a Nigerian chemistry educator, researcher, and cultural knowledge advocate whose work brings scientific learning into the Yoruba language. Through his educational initiative, Kemisiri ní Èdè Yorùbá, he demonstrates how an indigenous language can serve not only as a vehicle for cultural expression, but also as a medium for communicating scientific principles, developing understanding, and expanding access to knowledge.

Through Kemisiri ní Èdè Yorùbá, Azeez seeks to expand the range of contexts in which Yoruba can be used for serious intellectual work. His initiative brings the language into a field that is essential to scientific literacy, technological development, and innovation.

The creation of a Yoruba chemistry vocabulary

Azeez had created a chemistry dictionary in Yoruba. The resource is intended to support the communication and learning of chemistry through the indigenous language. Azeez’s work in this area connects the practical needs of chemistry education with the wider question of how Yoruba can continue to function as a language of knowledge.