ENGR. PROF. SCOTT BERNARD AKPILA
Engr. Professor Scott Bernard Akpila is a Professor of Geotechnical Engineering. He is the current Head of Campus, Ahoada Campus of the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. An accomplished and erudite scholar, a consulting Geotechnical Engineer, a distinguished son of Emago-Kugbo, in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State and a Justice of the Peace (JP).
The journey to stardom began in 1971 when he started his primary education at St. Michael State School Emago-Kugbo. Upon the successful completion of his primary school education, he proceeded to the famous Kalabari National College (KNC), Buguma, for his secondary school education with a leadership responsibility of Senior Prefect in 1983. He later gained admission into the then prestigious Rivers State University of Science and Technology, now Rivers State University, and in 1990 he obtained a Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) Degree in Civil Engineering, graduating with Second Class Honours, Upper Division. He has a Masters of Engineering (M.Eng) Degree in Geotechnical Engineering at University of Benin and another Masters of Engineering (M.Eng.) Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Port-Harcourt.
By dint of hard work and divine providence, he got to the zenith of his academic career in 2011, when the University of Port-Harcourt awarded him a Doctorate of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in Geotechnical Engineering.
His career in the academia started as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Civil Engineering, upon the completion of his National Youth Service Corps NYSC in 1991 and then got promoted through the ranks and became a Professor of Geotechnical Engineering from 2019 in the Rivers State University.
Alongside, his research and teaching experiences, Professor Scott B. Akpila has gained tremendous and varied University administrative experiences; the Department Examination Officer (1998-2001), Department Welfare Officer (2001-2008) and Project Coordinator (2008-2011) and later Acting Head of Department, Civil Engineering in 2015, among other reputable administrative positions. Professor Scott B. Akpila has been a visiting scholar and Dean of Faculty, Engineering, at the Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State. He is presently the Head of Ahoada Campus of the Rivers State University.
This highly talented, polite and good nurtured academic personality, have distinguished himself as a teacher, scholar, and researcher thus possessing an outline of academic achievements. He has several publications both in local and international journals, and technical reports. Professor Scott B. Akpila has authored two books; Basic Soil Mechanics, and Principles of Foundation Engineering.
Dedicated, Dependable and Dynamic are three words which could be used to describe the very essence of Professor Scott B. Akpila’s character. Humble, Honest and Hardworking could be another three to underscore his core values for life. Discipline, Compassionate, Inspiring and a man of high integrity also form the fundamental principles of his relationship to humanity. This distinguished scholar of repute is a member of different professional bodies. He is a chartered Engineer and Member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN; Member, Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE. In 2008, he was elected Assistant Secretary and by 2010; he became the Programme Coordinator (Secretary) of Nigerian Geotechnical Association (NGA) and the Secretary of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), in Nigeria of which NGA, now Nigerian Institution of Geotechnical Engineers, NIGE, is a member Society.
Outside the University community, He has served the larger society in different capacities: Expatriate consultant to Pearl Consultants on Lot 2- (Geotecnhnical), ECOWAS corridor highway (Tarkuradi – Akunu corridor highway- Ghana), 2019-2021. Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor; first as Special Adviser, on Public Assets Maintenance (2015-2017) and Special Adviser on Project Monitoring and Implementation (2017-2018). Member of the Special Monitoring Task Force on Dualization of Major Roads and Bridges in Rivers state (2008-2010). Member, Caretaker committee, Abua/Odual Local Government Area (2007) and Supervisor for Works, Abua/Odual LGA (2004).
Professor Scott B. Akpila, a noble family man, is married to Dr. Mrs. Fortune Akpila, and the marriage is blessed with children.
