Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

Engr. Dr. Paul Paulinus Akpan, an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, is a young male academic who hails from Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria and happily married. He had his primary and secondary education at Army Children School, and Government Army Secondary School both in Elele, Port Harcourt between 1987 to 1993 and 1994 and 2000 where he obtained his first school leaving and senior secondary certificates with credits. Thereafter he proceeded to Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori where He studied Civil Engineering and graduated with distinction at National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels in 2004 and 2007 respectively. Owing to his excellent performance, He secured direct masters’ admission to Atlantic International University, USA where he bagged an M.Sc and Ph.D degrees in Geotechnical and Geo-environmental Engineering, an option in Civil Engineering, in 2014 and 2016 respectively with distinction. He went further to do a B.Sc top-up  at Afriford University, Benin where He graduated with a second class upper in Civil Engineering in 2017. He again proceeded for another M.Eng/Ph.D program at Chukwu Emeka Odumegu Ojukwu University, formerly Anambra State University, Uli where He obtained another Ph.D in Civil Engineering (Water Resources and Environmental Engineering Specialty) with distinction in 2020.  Interestingly, being a multitasking academia, He also bagged another M.Sc degree in Occupational Health, Safety and Environment, a specialty in Civil Engineering (Public Health) at the University of Port Harcourt, Choba in 2019.

Engr. Dr. Paul Paulinus Akpan, a sound and accomplished academic, has worked as an academic staff in both university and polytechnic systems for over fifteen years. He has published fifty nine articles in international journals, six text books, three book chapters, four laboratory manuals, four monograms and has presented nine articles in international conferences and over thirteen in local conferences. He has twenty four creative innovations and was privilege to exhibit most of them in the first and second Nigeria national exhibition held at Abuja where his institution emerged second best in Nigeria. He is registered with and sustains thirteen professional memberships and is a peer reviewer of nine international journals in the US, UK and other part of the world including International Water Association, London.   He is also a certified NEBORSH and OSHA occupational health, safety and environmental professional, lead auditor in quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management system, ISO9001:2015, ISO14001:2015, ISO45001:2018 respectively.

He specializes in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical and Geo-environmental Engineering, Hydraulics Structures, Advanced Hydraulics and Hydrology, Occupational Health, Safety and Environment. He has had several academic and national awards amongst them are Africa International Achievers Award, 2017,Ghana, Cum Laude Honors, PhD in Civil Engineering with A Major in Geotechnical Engineering 2015/2016 Session, AIU, USA, Cum Laude Honors, Master of Science In Civil Engineering with A Major in Geotechnical Engineering 2013/2014 Session, AIU, USA, and best graduating student of the year 2003/2004 academic session, Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, Nigeria, West-Africa.

He belongs to several professional bodies, including Fellow, Nigerian Association of Technologist in Engineering (an arm

of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN); Fellow Institute of Policy Management and Development(FIPMD); Member, International Water Association (MIWA); Member, Society of Toxicology (MSOT); Member, Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (MISPON); Member, National Registry of Environmental Professionals(MREP); Member, Nigerian Society of Safety Engineers (MNSSE); Member , West Africa Society of Toxicology (MWASOT); COREN Registered Engineer; Corporate Member, The Nigerian Society of Engineers (MNSE-COREN); Corporate Member, Nigerian Association of Technologist In Engineering (MNATE-COREN); Corporate Member, International Project Management Professional (MIPMP), and Corporate Member, Waste Management Association of Nigeria (WAMASON). He is currently the acting head of department, civil and environmental engineering in the school of engineering, Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi.

I welcome all new and old students of this most respected institution, especially the Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering students with the following keys to success. Your success depends on the application of these keys of success.

Hard work. Don’t depend on luck in your studies, depend more on hard work and prayers because it pays much more. If you work hard, then you will stand before Kings (distinction student) and not mean men (Repeating students).

Sacrifice. If you don’t sacrifice for what you want to achieve in your academic pursuit, then what you want becomes the sacrifice.

Consistency. Consistency is what transforms an average student into a top-notch, exceptional or excellent student.

Discipline and motivation. Motivation keeps you going, but discipline keeps you growing.

Self-confidence. Confidence is not like they will like me, but it makes you believe that you can do it.

Patience. If you are losing your patience in using your academic prowess rightly to achieve your set goals, then you are losing your chances to have good success.

Good time keeping. Success is not factored by being a genius, rather it’s a factor of the right use of time.

Do it now. Don’t procrastinate, keep to your appropriately designed academic time table, and do all your assignment immediately it is assigned. Learn from the ant and be wise.

Determination. Determination keeps you very focused on your academic dream. Be determined to have good success. Distinction is not so much to desire as a determined student. Go for it and you will have it.

I encourage you all to use these available, very useful and free keys to success to achieve excellent results in your academic pursuit.  I pray for God’s mercies and protections to be with you all as you remain steadfast and resolute to achieve good success in your academics.

Thanks.

VISION STATEMENT

Our vision is to be the best performing department that would lead the university in the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in Science, Technology and Engineering, producing first-rate graduates committed to changing their environment through transformative and innovative applications of knowledge and through cutting-edge research and development.

MISSION

Our Mission is to diligently work as a team with other coexisting departments in the university to be the leading educational institution in Engineering, Science and Technology, able to equip our students with innovative skills through excellent teaching and research, and to be in the fore-front of ground- breaking research that would transform our communities and nation in the nearest future.

PHILOSOPHY

The Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) degree programme in Civil Engineering is based on the philosophy that the rate at which a nation progresses technologically is determined to a great extent by the size, quality, motivation and orientation of its science and engineering workforce. The programme seeks to train civil engineers who can best contribute to national development. For this, they must be equipped with the tools to understand, analyse, design, and construct all possible physical facilities that can possibly promote appropriate development by conceiving and adapting techniques, processes, and materials as necessary. In consequence of the above, the programme is structured in such a way that students will have opportunity to take courses that will provide a basic understanding of all areas of civil engineering practice.

Hence, the philosophy of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is anchored on:

1. The desire to promote cutting-edge knowledge of Engineering, Science and Technology especially in Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology, and apply new and innovative knowledge for the improvement of our communities, state and nation
2. The acquisition of appropriate Civil and Environmental Engineering technology experience, skills, and training by our staff and students to provide the workforce required in the national economy and to stimulate development through innovation and ultimately drive the growth of the local and national economy.
3. The inculcation of the culture of dedication, hard work, discipline, integrity in staff and students of Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology, by encouraging staffs and students to use possible available windows of excellent atmosphere provided by the institution for scholarship, research, innovation and collaboration with other institutions, government and non-governmental organizations.
4. The desire to be known as the bed-rock of excellent teaching, research and innovative ideas using contemporary artificial intelligence, engineering technological advancements, and Information and Communications Technology.

CORE VALUES OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Our core values are anchored on integrity, creativity, artificial intelligence, hybrid innovations, technological development, and entrepreneurship development to harness the earth for humans comfort

STATEGIC GOALS OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

The department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology shall adopt the following strategic goals:

1. Produce internationally acceptable graduates of Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology that can compete favourably with their peers anywhere in the world.
2. Equip graduates of Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology Department with relevant theoretical and practical knowledge, appropriate skills, and training on the use of hybrid tools and machines designed with artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithm to enhance their job performance in the labour market.
3. Motivate academic staffs and student to fabricate patented high tech artificial intelligence robotic Civil Engineering tools, machines, laboratory equipment, methods, and systems that could be used to analyse, design, construct high rise buildings, hydraulic structures, highway , waste water treatment plant, investigates low and deep aquifers, soils, water and environmental quality at ease.
4. Encourage the advancement of learning in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology, and to hold out to all students without any form of discrimination, the opportunity of acquiring a higher and technical education.
5. To win local and international grants that could be used to carry out ground breaking research in Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology related field research leading to the domestication and application of new technology in Nigeria through collaboration and linkages with other academic and research institutions in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world..
6. Provide the necessary strategic documents (CCMAS, Departmental hand book) for the development of its academic frameworks that guarantees academic excellence in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology, and foster academic development of the University.
7. Provide maximum support to management during recruitment process to ensure that competent and qualified staffs are employed to teach in Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology Department.
8. Recommend to management through the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, young distinction graduates who are adjudged competent to form the future pool of dedicated staff for the University
9. Support the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, and management in admission process to ensure that qualified students are admitted based on merit without any form of discrimination or bias.
10. Support the school of Engineering, and management to institutionalize awards, scholarships, prizes and other incentives to students who excel in learning and character to encourage excellence and hard work.