RSU Professor Warns of a Wounded Earth, Urges Ethical Engineering to Halt Sinking Structures

A Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the Rivers State University (RSU), Scott Akpila, has warned that the Earth is groaning under the weight of human negligence, as unethical engineering practices continue to cause collapsing bridges, sinking roads, and crumbling buildings across the world.

Delivering the 120th Inaugural Lecture of the university on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Professor Akpila described the phenomenon as the “silent cry of Mother Earth,” urging governments and engineers to act swiftly to protect the planet from further distress.

The lecture, titled “The Silent Cry of Mother Earth: A Wake-Up Call to Geotechnical Engineering Practice in Infrastructure Development,” explored how reckless construction, deforestation, and poor geotechnical design have deepened the wounds of the Earth, resulting in disasters that claim lives, property, and deplete natural resources.

“When Mother Earth cries, it is a reflection of the stress we have imposed on her through our own ambition and carelessness, every collapsed building, failed dam, or sinking bridge represents the pain of a wounded planet that was not properly studied before being burdened with our structures.”

He explained that Geotechnical Engineering, the branch of Civil Engineering concerned with the behaviour of soil, rock, and underground water under applied forces plays a vital role in ensuring the stability of foundations in both onshore and offshore environments.

According to him, involving geotechnical engineers from the planning stage of construction projects would significantly reduce the growing incidences of infrastructure collapse across the country.

“The responsibility of ensuring the stability of the soil foundation system lies squarely with the geotechnical engineer, ignoring this responsibility is an open invitation to disaster”, he warned.

Professor Akpila, who traced the history of modern Geotechnical Engineering to the pioneering work of German engineer Karl Terzaghi in 1925, also stressed the need for synergy between universities and industry players. He called for adequate investment in laboratory and field equipment to enhance practical training, research, and entrepreneurship in geotechnical practice.

He further recommended the training and retraining of academic and technical staff in laboratory operations that reflect real-world soil behaviour, as well as postgraduate investments to address the shortage of qualified geotechnical engineers in Nigerian universities.

“To heal the wounded Earth, our institutions must prioritise geotechnical integrity, soil preservation, and sustainable land use in every phase of infrastructure development.”

Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Valentine Omubo-Pepple, commended Professor Akpila for what he described as a thought-provoking and impactful lecture.

He said the presentation not only reflected Akpila’s scholarly depth and commitment to service but also underscored why the university deemed him worthy of professorial rank.

Professor Omubo-Pepple appealed to engineers, policy makers, and institutions to heed Akpila’s warnings and recommendations, noting that doing so would help silence the cry of Mother Earth and protect humanity from avoidable disasters.