Alumni of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA have donated a Bus and a Drilling Rig to enhance teaching and research in the Department. The donation was made during 1st homecoming / N500M CVE-Equipment Endowment programme held on Thursday April 17, 2024. The Homecoming with the theme, “Bridging the Past and Future: Celebrating Our Civil Engineering Legacy”, was held principally to celebrate some of its alumni flying the flag of the Department loftily in different areas of human endeavor and to generate support from them.
The Chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, described the assembly as a uniquely focused home coming as it explicitly stated that a sum of 500 million Equipment Endowment was part and parcel of the programme. Professor Oladiji said this showed the level of love the organizers and the alumni have for their dear Alma Mata in spite of the harsh economic situation.
The Vice Chancellor stated that the support of alumni is a major source of funding for University’s education anywhere in the world and it’s a thing of joy that FUTA and some institutions in this clime are gradually tapping into the model. She thanked and expressed her gratitude to all the great Alumni who found time out of their tight schedule to be present and be part of the epoch-making event and most importantly for the donation of a Bus and a drilling rig to the Department.
The Vice Chancellor also appreciated the Dean, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology Professor, Peter Oke, Head of Department of CVE, Professor Olugbenga Oyedepo and the chairperson Local Organizing Committee, Professor Bamitale Oluyemi-Ayibiowu for their untiring effort that made the occasion possible. According to the Vice Chancellor the home comings are beginning to look like a veritable way of scoring staff student relationship in the Departments and schools.
The Dean, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Professor Peter Oke said Civil Engineering is a profession with constant evolution driven by advancements in technology. He advised everyone to continue to look inward to see what can be done individually and collectively to carry on the values Civil Engineering is known for which are commitment to excellence, integrity, and service. Professor Oke who described the Vice Chancellor as a mother to the school thanked the university Management for its unwavering support in making the occasion a reality.
Also in a similar vein, the Head of Department, Professor Olugbenga Oyedepo said the Homecoming serves as a testament to the enduring bond that exists between Alumni and their Alma Mata. He said many significant contributions have been made to the department by the alumni. The achievements, he said, serve as a source of inspiration for current and future generations of Engineers. However, he advised that challenges lie ahead even in the midst of celebration. Professor Oyedepo appreciated the Vice Chancellor and the Management staff for their effort in projecting the University.
As part of events lectures were delivered by two alumni of the department. The first lecture was delivered by the Chairman, CEO, Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited, Engineer Olanrewaju Adeleke. Speaking on “Innovative Engineering: Leveraging Local Resource for Sustainable Infrastructure Development,” Adeleke described local resources as the foundation of sustainable infrastructure development and are materials and expertise readily available within a specific geographic area or community. He said the potential of local resources are immense however, they come with their own challenges like limited Technical Documentation, Quality control, Skills and Knowledge Gap, Regulatory and Permitting issues, Durability and longevity and resistance to change.
He said ways to ameliorate the challenges include empowering local communities, harnessing the power of Technology, Improving the Town and gown relationship and Government and policy to support sustainable Development.
The second lecture delivered by an alumnus ENGR. Olatunji Ariyomo, titled, Building Sustainable Futures: Green Infrastructure and Economic Resilience in Civil Engineering focused on sustainability as practices and processes that aim to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations in meeting their own needs. He also defined Green Infrastructure as a network of natural and semi natural features, processes and space designed and managed to provide a range of eco system services, services such as flood mitigation, improved air and water quality, climate regulation and recreational opportunities. He identified challenges associated with Green Infrastructure to include, Initial Investment cost; Long-term maintenance, Land use and space constraints, Regulatory and policy barriers and lack of awareness and Education.
Engr Ariyomo, an Engineer, a finance and infrastructure development expert with over 25 years of experience as an astute Politician of repute, said overcoming the barriers of green infrastructure include, Education and awareness, policy and regulatory reform, financial insensitive, capacity building, demonstration projects, community engagement and partnerships and collaborations. He said Engineers have great role to play in sustainable development and they include, Design sustainable Infrastructure, innovating sustainable Technologies, Optimizing Resources use, promoting Circular Economy, Assessing Environmental impacts, Advocating for sustainable practices and collaborations across disciplines. In his call to action, he suggested that embracing sustainability, innovate for impact, AdvoCare for change, Educate and empower, leading by example and an act to urgency of the sustainability challenge and act decisively and boldly to address it.
At an award ceremony to round off the event , the vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, Engr Olanrewaju Adeleke, Engr Olatunji Ariyomo, Prof Abiose Oguntuase, Professor Peter Oke, Professor Olugbenga Oyedepo, Professor Oluyemi Ayibiowu, Engr Prof Adebayo Owolabi, Professor Josiah Babatola, Professor Oluwapelumi Ojuri, Engr Prof Chucks Okoli, Engr Prof Olanitori, Engr Dorcas Akinwumi, Engr Ebenezer Fambegbe, Engr Peter Ben–Shida, Engr Emmanuel Kayode, Engr. Dr. Stephen Ibijola, Engr Emmanuel Kayode, Engr Steve Tayo, Engr Anslem Ijiebor, Engr Daphiwhare Henry Etukes, Professor Chinwuba Arum and Engr Omoya amongst others were rewarded for their contributions to the growth of the Department and the University.
