Nigeria’s dilapidated roads and rising plastic waste remain a twin headache for policymakers. But a civil engineer, Engr. Dr. Akinleye Monsuru Tunde, who holds a PhD, says both challenges can be tackled together through innovation.
Dr. Akinleye, a Senior Lecturer at Adeleke University, Ede, has pioneered a research model that converts plastic bottles and agricultural residues into additives for asphalt. According to him, the innovation produces stronger, longer-lasting and climate-resilient pavements, while also cutting down environmental pollution.
“We cannot continue to build roads the same way and expect different results,” he said. “By harnessing waste, we are solving two national problems at once—poor road durability and environmental degradation.”
Research applied on Nigerian roads
The civil engineer’s work has moved beyond theory, with the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) adopting his methods in some rehabilitation projects.
A FERMA official told our correspondent that the approach had helped the agency reduce repair costs while extending the lifespan of federal roads.
“Dr. Akinleye’s innovations have given us practical methods for producing durable roads using local resources. His work is a national asset,” the official said.
Global recognition
Dr. Akinleye’s findings, published in international journals, are drawing attention from scholars and engineers across the world. He has presented papers at major engineering conferences, where experts described his work as a model for developing countries.
A European researcher once remarked:
“Few people succeed in linking sustainability and affordability in road engineering the way Akinleye does. His approach places him among the top innovators globally.”
Academic role and mentorship
He serves as Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Adeleke University, where he also functions as Managing Editor of the Journal of Engineering and Technology.
Dr. Akinleye lectures both undergraduate and postgraduate students in Traffic Engineering, Transportation Economics and Environmental Impacts of Transportation Systems. Students say he inspires them to see engineering as more than equations.
“Dr. Akinleye makes us see engineering as a tool to solve real problems,” a former student said.
Awards and professional service
The engineer has received several honours, including a TETFund National Research Fund grant in 2021 to develop a plastic-waste interlocking machine. He was also named Most Published Scholar at Adeleke University (2019/2020) and Best Lecturer in Civil Engineering (2024/2025).
He is a COREN-registered engineer and an active member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE) and the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE).
Nigeria can lead Africa – Akinleye
Looking ahead, Dr. Akinleye believes Nigeria can position itself as a continental leader in sustainable road construction if homegrown research is given priority.
“The roads we build today must be strong enough for the traffic of tomorrow, and sustainable enough for the environment of the future,” he said.
Through his research and teaching, the civil engineer insists Nigerian professionals can offer world-class solutions to global problems.
