Actes du colloque

Proceedings of the 18

International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Paris 2013

Appendix 3

REPORT FROM THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF ISSMGE, AFRICA

TO ISSMGE COUNCIL MEETING, PARIS, 1

September 2013

Prof. Samuel U. Ejezie

ISSMGE Vice-President, Africa (2009-2013)

Department of Civil Engineering

University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

This report presents an overview of the state of ISSMGE in

Africa Region and highlights both the progress recorded and the

setbacks encountered in the advancement of ISSMGE ideals in

the Region since the last quadrennial International Conference

held in Alexandria, Egypt in October 2009.

Although Geotechnical engineering problems abound in the

continent, an unbiased assessment of the practice of the

profession world-wide easily reveals that the level here is still

below expectation. The continent is endowed with a rich

diversity of landforms which, naturally, are associated with a

wide variety of geotechnical engineering challenges capable of

attracting public attention and arousing strong interest in the

Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering profession.

Presently however, opinions differ on the level to which this

interest has been enkindled.

An attempt has been made in this

report to objectively assess this using the relative impact of

ISSMGE in the Region as the main parameter.

STATE OF ISSMGE IN AFRICA REGION DURING

2009 – 2013

Member Societies

During the period, 2009 – 2013, the number of potential

member societies identified in Africa Region was about 17

while the maximum number of existing active societies

recorded at any given time was 11. This does not seem

impressive considering the diversity and large number of

independent countries in the Region. However, judging from the

high level of political and social instability plaguing the

continent one may not hesitate to declare that these numbers are

relatively satisfactory. Some

countries in the Region never

knew peace throughout the four year period, while some that

were initially peaceful later got

engulfed in political

upheavals.

These conditions militated against meaningful professional

activities. As a result, rather than record a boom in the number

of active member societies the number was fluctuating most of

the time in consonance with the political situation in the

countries.

At present, the member societies include:



Egypt – Egyptian Geotechnical Society (EGS),



Tunisia – Tunisian Society for Soil Mechanics (ATMS),



Sudan – Sudanese Society for Soil Mechanics and

Geotechnical Engineering (SSSMGE),



Nigeria – Nigerian Geotechnical Association (NGA),



Ghana – Ghana Geotechnical Society (GGS),



South Africa – Geotechnical division of the South African

Institute of Civil Engineering (SAICE),



Francophone Sub-Saharan West and Central Africa

(Cameroon, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Chad, Upper

Volta, Niger, Benin, Togo, DR Congo) – Comité

Transnational des Géotechniciens d’Afrique (CTGA),



Mozambique – Mozambican Geotechnical Society (SMG),



Kenya – Kenyan Geotechnical Society (KGS),



Morocco – Moroccan Geotechnical Society,



Zimbabwe

A few among these have been inactive but are currently on

the verge of springing back into active mode. In addition, there

are positive indications that Ethiopia, Libya, Uganda, and some

of the countries in the Francophone league are warming up to

form their national societies. This is highly desirable and needs

to be facilitated.

It is pertinent to note here that altogether, African member

societies account for less than 1000 of the ISSMGE’s 19000

members. This, without doubt, is on the low side and

underscores the necessity for aggressive membership drive in

the Region.

AFRICA

Volume 6 - Page 247