By Olamide Francis
The Nigerian Institute of Environmental Engineers, a division of the Nigerian Society for Engineers, has said that the role environmental engineers play in society cannot be overemphasized, Nature News gathered.
This statement was made by Engineer Ademola Olorunfemi, FNSE FNSEE, a guest speaker at the first public lecture held virtually in honour of Engr. Muyideen Abayomi Akinsanya, FNSE.
The event was organised by the Nigeria Society for Engineers and the Nigerian Society for Environmental Engineers with the theme, “MA Akinsanya: The Environmental Engineer, The Bridge Builder.”
Engineer Ademola said, “Environmental engineering as a job type that is a professional engineering discipline and takes from broad scientific topics like chemistry, biology, ecology, geology, hydraulics, hydrology, microbiology, and mathematics to create solutions that will protect and also improve the health of living organisms and improve the quality of the environment”
He also noted the role environmental engineers play in public health, waste management, pollution control and infrastructural development.
“Environmental engineering aids the development of processes and infrastructure for the supply of water, the disposal of waste, and the control of pollution of all kinds. These endeavours protect public health by preventing disease transmission, and they preserve the quality of the environment by averting the contamination and degradation of air, water, and land resources.”
Engineer Ademola concluded his speech, saying environmental engineer builds a bridge between the environment and technology by applying techniques of engineering technology to clean up wastes generated from indiscriminate and unsustainable use of that technology.
Some dignitaries present at the virtual event were Engr. Obafemi Hamzat, FNSE, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State; Engineer N.O. Shodeinde, FNSE FNSEE, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources and Engineer O.E.S. Ajani, the National Chairman of NIEE.
