By Stella Odueme
A Professor of Environmental and Engineering Geology at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Gabriel O. Adeyemi, has called for greater recognition of geoscience professionals in Nigeria’s infrastructure development and environmental management.
Adeyemi said engineering geologists play a critical role in preventing the collapse of buildings and the failure of roads, bridges and dams, stressing the need for geoscientists to work closely with engineers to ensure the safety and sustainability of infrastructure.
The professor made the call at the 11th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (NAEGE), held in Abuja.
The conference has the theme, “Geoinformation for Sustainable Infrastructure in a Rapidly Developing Nation.”
Speaking on the importance of engineering geology, Adeyemi said the profession was particularly relevant to Nigeria, given the country’s extensive infrastructure needs, including buildings, roads and dams.
He stressed that geoscientists and engineers must collaborate in the planning, design and construction of infrastructure to reduce the risk of structural failures.
“Engineering geologists are very important, especially in this country where we have a lot of buildings, plenty of roads, plenty of dams,” he said.
Adeyemi, who was also one of the panelists during penal session, added that the contribution of geologists went beyond mineral exploration, noting that their expertise was essential in understanding the soil and rocks on which structures were built.
“We work hand in hand with engineers to ensure that our buildings do not collapse, to ensure that our bridges and dams do not fail, to ensure that our roads do not fail,” he said.
The don also emphasised the importance of integrity and professional responsibility in the practice of engineering geology.
He urged practitioners to ensure that their technical reports were based on sound investigations and met the required professional standards, rather than merely producing reports that appeared attractive or impressive.
“It’s not just enough to write a very beautiful report. Make sure that what you have written is standard, that you have done the right thing before you go to report,” he said.
According to him, professional integrity would ensure that geologists could defend their work whenever their findings were questioned or challenged.
He encouraged young geologists to take advantage of the opportunities available in engineering geology and environmental management, describing the fields as areas with significant prospects.
“And the young geologists, they have a very bright future, especially if you are interested in engineering geology, engineering geology and the environment,” he said.
Adeyemi further called for the adoption of innovative methods and advanced techniques in geoscience practice to bring Nigeria closer to the standards of developed countries.
He said geo-innovation should involve modifying traditional approaches and introducing improved technologies to address infrastructure and environmental challenges.
“When we talk about geo-innovation, we are saying that we should try and modify what we have been doing over the years. We have to introduce some innovations. We have to introduce some more advanced techniques so that we can be at par with the developed countries of the world,” he said.
The professor also advocated stronger international collaboration and knowledge transfer, noting that interaction with geoscientists from other countries could expose Nigerian practitioners and students to improved methods and professional practices.
He said such exchanges would help strengthen the quality of training and reduce the production of inadequately prepared professionals.
“Because if you go to Europe or America, buildings really collapse,” he said, while stressing the importance of learning from international experience and transferring knowledge to students.
Adeyemi also highlighted the role of geologists in environmental protection, particularly in the management of waste and the prevention of pollution.
He said environmental management was an important area where geoscience knowledge could be applied for the benefit of the public.
“Our environment is very important, and we are the people that can manage our environment,” he said.
He warned that indiscriminate waste disposal could result in pollution of rivers and groundwater, with possible consequences for communities that depend on such water resources.
“If we dump our waste anyhow, our waste can find their way to rivers,” he said.
“And if we don’t dump waste anyhow, the waste can pollute groundwater,” he added.
According to him, the protection of groundwater and other environmental resources requires the application of geoscientific knowledge in waste management, land use and infrastructure development.
The don called on the Nigerian government to give greater recognition to geoscience professionals and their contributions to national development.
He said the role of geologists was often overlooked in infrastructure projects, with attention frequently focused on engineers alone.
“The solution is that we should be given geoscience, it should be recognized by Nigerian governments,” he said.
Adeyemi noted that geologists were important not only in studying the soil and rocks beneath infrastructure but also in identifying and assessing naturally occurring materials used in construction.
He said their expertise was crucial in ensuring that construction materials were suitable for the intended purpose and that infrastructure was built on sound geological foundations.
“We are very important. And not only in the soil and rocks on which we have our buildings, but even on the material that we use for construction. Naturally occurring materials. We are the experts,” he said.
The professor reaffirmed that engineering geology was essential to infrastructure safety, environmental sustainability and the effective application of geoscience knowledge to national development.