•Say, ‘Engineers must embrace uncertainty to prevent infrastructure collapse’

Fidelis David in Akure 

 A Professor of Civil and Structural Engineering at Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, David Akinyiwola Opeyemi has warned that increasing climate variability, environmental degradation, sea-level rise and extreme weather events now pose growing threats to infrastructure systems across the world, calling on engineers and policymakers to adopt climate-responsive designs and emerging technologies to safeguard lives and critical infrastructure.

Professor Opeyemi made the declaration while delivering the 6th Inaugural Lecture of Achievers University titled, “Bridging Uncertainty: Ensuring Structural Safety Amid Climate and Environmental Change.”

The expert who doubles as Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in institution said conventional engineering methods, which largely depend on deterministic calculations and historical environmental data, are increasingly becoming inadequate in addressing modern environmental realities.

According to him, rising uncertainties associated with climate change now demand a major shift in engineering practice towards resilience-driven and adaptive infrastructure systems.

“Engineering practice must evolve from the pursuit of absolute certainty to the embrace of responsible uncertainty management,” he stated.

The scholar explained that modern engineering must increasingly adopt probabilistic methods, resilience-based design frameworks, continuous monitoring systems and adaptive decision-making models capable of responding to unpredictable environmental conditions.

Drawing lessons from global infrastructure failures, including the collapse of the Morandi Bridge collapse, Professor Opeyemi noted that uncertainty remains an unavoidable component of structural engineering and should be deliberately integrated into design, construction, inspection and maintenance processes.

“The probability of failure is never completely zero. Our responsibility as engineers is therefore to manage uncertainty intelligently and protect human lives through safer and more resilient systems,” he said.

He further highlighted the increasing relevance of stochastic modelling and structural reliability frameworks in strengthening infrastructure resilience against climate-induced risks, disclosing that his research contributions include reliability-based engineering models, uncertainty quantification frameworks and artificial intelligence-driven solutions for climate-resilient infrastructure.

Professor Opeyemi also referenced international research collaborations involving the Russian Academy of Sciences and other institutions on the reliability analysis of ground-active fibre pipelines exposed to wind loads, subsidence and environmental uncertainties.

Reflecting on his academic journey from obtaining a National Diploma in Civil Engineering to earning a PhD in Engineering, the don described the inaugural lecture as both a professional milestone and an opportunity to advocate evidence-based engineering solutions for societal development.

He stressed the need for stronger collaboration among engineers, researchers, regulators and professional institutions in developing context-sensitive standards capable of addressing emerging environmental realities, while also calling for sustained investment in research, innovation, capacity building and ethical engineering practice.

“Our obligation as engineers goes beyond designing structures; it is fundamentally about protecting lives, strengthening resilience and securing the future,” he concluded.

In his remarks, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Achievers University, Professor Oyesoji Aremu, described the lecture as timely and socially relevant, noting that the presentation addressed critical issues relating to public safety, infrastructure sustainability, environmental responsibility and national development. 

He commended Professor Opeyemi for his contributions to structural engineering and climate resilience research, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to solution-driven scholarship and innovation.