Structural Engineer, Odeyemi, recommends alternatives to cement in building projects

By Stephen Oladele

A Professor of Structural and Material Engineering, Samson Odeyemi, has suggested a means by which Nigeria can be less dependent on conventional cements for construction projects.

He said the country can embrace a circular economy that promotes the use of locally sourced waste materials in the construction industry.

Odeyemi who is a don at the Faculty of Engineering, Kwara State University (KWASU) made the recommendation  on Wednesday when he delivered the 22nd Inaugural Lecture of the University titled, “From Rubble to Resilience: Gathering the Fragments for a New Structural Paradigm”

He said that supportive legislative frameworks and industry policies would encourage the integration of the waste materials into building projects, reduce environmental pollution, and lower construction costs.

The engineer urged the federal government  to introduce policies that will require construction projects in the country to incorporate a minimum percentage of recycled or sustainable materials.

He explained that such a policy would lay the foundation for a new era of building construction in the country, where structures are designed for greater strength, resilience, and environmental sustainability.

The don identified agricultural waste products such as rice ausk ash, corn cob ash, sugarcane bagasse ash, and palm oil fuel ash as valuable industrial resources that can be transformed into high-performance engineering materials.

While noting that these materials are not primary binders, he said that they possess pozzolanic properties that react during cement hydration to produce additional strength-enhancing compounds.

He stated that research has demonstrated that concrete produced with agricultural waste-derived materials can meet and even exceed conventional technical standards while providing a more cost-effective and sustainable alternative for infrastructure development.

As evidence of the practical application of the research, the inaugural lecturer pointed to the interlocking paving stones at the entrance of the KWASU Faculty of Engineering, which were produced using rice husk ash and locally sourced fibres, demonstrating that the innovation has moved beyond the laboratory into real-world application.

He described Nigeria’s construction industry as one where standards are often influenced by market forces, emphasizing the need to protect the sector from excessive dependence on imported construction materials and the environmental impact associated with carbon-intensive cement production.

To reduce incidents of building collapse due to substandard and unregulated construction practices, Odeyemi recommended  that government agencies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria  (SON) ensure that only certified materials reach the market. 

He reaffirmed that  adopting sustainable building materials derived from agricultural waste would not only improve the durability and resilience of infrastructure but also promote environmental conservation, stimulate local industries, and support the country’s drive toward sustainable development.