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By Stella Odueme
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Tectonics Engineering and Consults Limited, Dr. Aisha Kawu Gombe, has called on geologists in Nigeria to intensify public awareness, research and professional engagement to support sustainable infrastructure development.
Gombe made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 11th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (NAEGE) in Abuja.
The conference was held with the theme, “Geoinformation for Sustainable Infrastructure in a Rapidly Developing Nation.”
She said geologists had not done enough to educate Nigerians on the profession’s contributions and its potential to provide solutions to the country’s infrastructure challenges.
According to her, “As geologists, we are not doing enough. To me, what we are doing is only five per cent of what we are supposed to do.”
Gombe, who was also a panelist during the Panel Session, and got an award for her contributions to the growth and advancement of the profession, stressed the need for more awareness campaigns, summits and educational programmes to help Nigerians understand the role of geologists in national development.
She said professionals must explain the relevance of their work to the public before implementing projects, noting that effective communication was essential to gaining public understanding and support.
“If I want to improve your life, if I want to do something for you, I have to tell you why am I doing it,” she said.
The Tectonics Engineering CEO also urged geologists to increase research activities and make their expertise more accessible to society.
“Our geologists are quiet, they need to come out, they need to talk, they need to educate society who we are and what we can do, and we need a lot of research, research, research,” she said.
Gombe further called on senior professionals to provide mentorship and direction to younger geologists, stressing the importance of guiding the next generation in their careers.
She said the discussions at the conference had provided valuable lessons and expressed optimism that the association could develop practical solutions to the challenges facing the profession.
“My takeaway is we are the professionals, we are going to set up a group wherever we will be communicating, and look at how we can help our young ones,” she said.
She urged participants to move beyond discussions and take concrete steps towards implementing solutions.
“Let us be part of the solution, not part of the people that are lamenting,” Gombe said.
She added that awareness, follow-up and implementation must begin immediately if the profession is to make a meaningful contribution to sustainable infrastructure development.
“How do we go about this? Start from today is awareness, follow up, don't just go and talk about something without implementing it,” she said.