Across the world, collapsing bridges, sinking roads, failed dams and crumbling buildings tell a grim story of one that echoes the cry of a wounded planet of “Mother Earth”.
Thus, when “Mother Earth cries,” it symbolizes the weight of human ambition and negligence through reckless construction, deforestation, over excavation, or poor geotechnical design which translates to a distress on the environment.
However, the “cry” of Mother Earth which culminates in incidences of failure and ultimate collapse of engineering infrastructure oftentimes leading to loss of lives, resources, time, space, energy, and matter, can be avoided by consulting Geotechnical Engineering experts, who can moderate the silent cry of Mother Earth.
Professor Scott Bernard Akpila, a lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the Rivers State University (RSU), made the observations and recommendations as he delivered the 120th Inaugural Lecture of the university on Wednesday October 8, 2025 at the Senate Building of the Institution.
Titled, “The Silent Cry of Mother Earth: A Wake Up Call To Geotechnical Engineering Practice In Infrastructure Development,” Professor Akpila who is a specialist in Geotechnical Engineering said government at all levels, should support in infrastructure development programmes in the country, to address issues rated to the silent cry of Mother Earth.
Describing Geotechnical Engineering as that branch of civil engineering that focuses on the engineering properties and behavior of soil, rock and underground water under force application and also on their influence during design, construction and operation in Engineering projects, Prof Akpila said that the level of stress transferred by either natural or man-made structures to Mother Earth is crucial to the stability and deformation of foundations on onshore and offshore environments.
Professor Akpila who is the Fourth to deliver an Inaugural Lecture from the Department of Civil Engineering of the University and the first in Geotechnical Engineering specialization, noted that it is the “sole responsibility of the Geotechnical Engineer, to knowledgeably ensure the overall stability of the soil foundation system”. This according to him, will help in “reducing incidences of failure and ultimate collapse of engineering infrastructure.”
Tracing the history of Geotechnical Engineering through the publication of the book “Erdbahmecanik” by Karl Terzaghi, a German in 1925, who is also credited as the founder of modern Geotechnical Engineering, Professor Akpila with lots of diagrams, illustrations and formulas illustrated the role of Geotechnical Engineers in providing the foundation safety link between the earth and built infrastructure.
The university Don postulated that for a harmonious human progress in infrastructural development, it is important that geotechnical integrity, soil preservation, and sustainable land use must go hand in hand, noting that ignoring such a harmony, is a call to disaster.
Professor Akpila who reeled out an impressive outlay of his contributions to knowledge and development of society urged government at all levels to support the inclusion of Geotechnical Engineers in infrastructure development programs, in the country.
He also advocated a University-Industry based collaboration for the provision of basic Geotechnical Engineering field and laboratory equipment in Civil Engineering Departments, to boost entrepreneurship potential of universities and knowledge visibility.
Furthermore, Professor Akpila called for the training and retraining of staff in laboratory operations and applications that reflect field behaviour of earth materials.
He also urged the university administration to invest adequately in Geotechnical Engineering training at postgraduate level by leveraging on what he termed, “our location, availability of expertise and manpower, against the absence of qualified Geotechnical Engineers to assume this challenging responsibility in many of Nigerian universities.”
Speaking at the end of the thought provoking Inaugural Lecture, the Vice Chancellor of the RSU, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi commended Prof Akpila for his well articulated lecture which he believed has added great knowledge to the world.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor(Academic), Prof Valentine Omubo-Pepple, the VC said Prof Akpila by his various contributions in learning and service to humanity has “justified why the university elevated him to the rank of a professor.”
He appealed to everyone to carefully note the contributions and suggestions proffered by Prof Akpila to ensure that Mother Earth is saved from crying and humans protected from disasters.
