By Wole Balogun
S.A media to VC
A Professor of Civil Engineering with specialization in Structural Engineering, Prof. Christopher Ajiboye Fapounda, of the University University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), on Thursday proffered what could be described as lasting solution to the perennial problem of sudden building collapses in Nigeria. Prof. Fapounda in his inaugural lecture entitled: “Resiliency in Developing Resilient and Sustainable Structural Concrete Materials for Sustainable Civil infrastructure, from Agricultural wastes”, which he delivered as the 20th inaugural lecturer series of the University, disclosed that in developed countries like Europe where incidents of building collapse has become history, there is an operating Standard for building, which a comity of seasoned Structural engineers came together to formulate and which became a Standard being followed strictly thus preventing building collapses. Urging that such measure could be adopted to permanently stop building collapses in Nigeria, Prof. Fapounda said: ”
“Take the prevalence of building collapse in the country as another example….This inaugural lecturer now attempts to see how the problem could be solved from structural materials perspectives…The operating British Standard Governing structural design of Reinforced Concrete (RC) in Nigeria was looked into for guidance. It was discovered that eleven organisations in the United Kingdom cooperated to draft the Standard for structural concrete. The equivalent of this protocol was identified in Nigeria. However, the problem is how to get them together on the same table to come up with acceptable draft Standard , since all of them are in collateral legal relationships. It is a herculean task. If it is assumed that they are able to come together and produce a Standard (which will take many years), there is the National Legislature hurdles to be encountered and overcome so that the Standard can become a National Law.”
Having clarified on what to do to stop building collapse in Nigeria, Prof. Fapounda noted that the British Standard remains the National Standard for the design and construction of reinforced Concrete structures in Nigeria, adding that the structural engineer is expected to ensure that all structural works comply with this Standard so as to prevent future building collapses in the country.
The Professor of Civil Engineering went further to X-ray tedious process of construction which is primarily what his lecture is about. He gave an alternative title of his lecture to be, ” The Agony and Travails of a Structural Engineer”, to simplify his explanation. Citing copiously from the cutting edge researches he had successfully carried out in his career as Lecturer and Scholar, he explained how sustainable materials for structural buildings could be harvested from Agricultural wastes such as Saw dust and others. He noted that the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE)’s natural environment provides such rich agricultural wastes for his researches and teaching of his students and urged the management to give more support in ensuring that the department of civil engineering could harvest more of the materials from the University environment.
Prof. Fapounda advocated for workable and more impactful curriculum in teaching civil engineering in Tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Explaining his contribution in the regard, he said:
“…lt was in recognition of the need for structural literacy and numeracy that the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStuct E) recommends the passing of a 7-hours professional examination for civil engineers to become a member of the institute. Having scaled through this hurdle, this inaugural lecturer devised a means to inculcate this attribute to civil engineering education and also address concerns of UN-SD 4. In addition, it is intended to stimulate their development in Structural Engineering so that government can have confidence in their competence as to attract their patronage. This method is called Independent Data Assignment (IDA). This method ensures that no two students have same set of design data for any design assignment…”
Prof. Fapounda also disclosed his contribution to knowledge in the area of the elaborate definition of a civil engineering. He noted that his research has shown that the NUC definition of civil engineering did not yet measure up to the United Kingdom’s institute of Civil Engineering definition. Stressing the need for ensuring the NUC definition measures up with that of UK, he revealed that Civil/Structural Engineering has come to Nigeria from the UK. Prof. Fapounda therefore gave the standard definition of the profession thus,
“..and more particularly for promoting the acquisition of that species of knowledge which constitutes the profession of a Civil Engineer, being the art of directing the great sources of power in Nature for use and for convenience of man, as the means of production and traffic in states both for external and internal trades as applied in the construction of roads, bridges, aqueducts, canals l, river navigation and docks, for internal intercourse and exchange , and I. The construction of ports , harbours, miles, breakwaters, and lighthouses, and in the art of navigation by artificial power for the purposes of commerce , and in the construction and adaptation of machinery, and in the drainage of cities and towns. ”
Prof. Fapounda drew on the interdisciplinary nature of his profession, linking it in particular to Philosophy. And this becomes an interesting part of his lecture as he effortlessly navigated the interdisciplinary bond structural engineering shares with history where historic Ceaser, gave constitutional words that resonate with structural engineering. Thus, Prof. Fapounda said: ” …Mr. Vice-Chancellor sir, it is from the Paulopetronic house of Ceaser to whom the whole domain of Civil/Structural Engineering are greatly indebted that this concept of “Summum bonum” became clearer. In the works of Ceaser, translated by Moyle (1912), their Constitution which personified their wisdom, had the following end: ” To live honestly, to injure no one, and to give every man his due. It is here that the light of Structural Engineering shines very brilliantly. This is because the whole pre-occupation of structural engineering is to provide service or product , that is not injurious to individual or the Society or state. Whether in research, or in teaching, or in the design activities, or implementation of what was designed, or in the administration, the goal is the same_ to be honest, harm none, give everyone his or her due ”
Drawing his lecture into a close, Prof. Fapounda gave strong recommendations for the University management on the urgent need to give more support to the Engineering Faculty of the University in a quest to ensure more robust teaching activities and richer research endeavours. He became emotional while appreciating those who had assisted him in what he described as a rough journey to his current enviable status of a full professor. He sobbed profusely while recalling in particular a time things became pretty difficult for him and he had to lean on the supporting arms of his benefactors In a prompt response to this development, and moved by the Lecturer’s emotional state, members of the University community in attendance gave him a resounding applause in a genuine show of love.
Prof. Fapounda was thereafter pronounced as full professor of Civil Engineering of the University by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, who was ably represented by Prof. Tajudeen Bolanle Opoola, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor< Administration of the University.