Professor Akinola Ikudayisi

Professor Akinola Ikudayisi is a distinguished academic leader in Civil Engineering, specialising in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering. He has been in academia since January 2004, with experience across higher education in Nigeria and South Africa, combining advanced research with strategic academic leadership.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Civil Engineering, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, a Master of Science and Doctor of Engineering in Civil Engineering, as well as a Master of Business Administration.

He is currently an Associate Professor and Head of the Civil Engineering Department at Walter Sisulu University, where he plays a key role in curriculum development. His work promotes the integration of sustainability, climate resilience, and emerging technologies such as IoT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to ensure future-ready engineering education.

Professor Ikudayisi teaches across diploma and advanced diploma levels, including Civil Engineering Project III, Civil Engineering Practice III, Irrigation IV, Water Treatment Technology IV, Wastewater Treatment Technology IV, and Industrial Project IV. He is recognised for innovative, student-centred teaching that incorporates case studies, problem-based learning, computational modelling, and fieldwork. In recognition of his excellence, he received the 2025 WSU Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence in Teaching Award (Senior Teacher category). He has also completed a “Designing with AI” course from the University of Cape Town, enabling the ethical integration of AI into teaching and learning.

His research focuses on addressing real-world challenges, particularly in Africa. His areas of interest include solid waste management, integrated water resources management, hydrology, water and wastewater treatment, irrigation water management, modelling and simulation, evolutionary algorithms, water resources optimisation, and water quality modelling. He also applies Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to complex hydrological problems.

He has an extensive publication record covering topics such as irrigation optimisation, evapotranspiration modelling, AI applications in water management, water quality assessment, hydrological forecasting, and environmental sustainability in river catchments including the Mthatha and Mkomazi systems. His recent work includes advanced modelling approaches such as ARIMA, ANN, SWAT, and Markov models, as well as interdisciplinary studies on sludge management and aquatic ecosystems.

His academic profiles can be accessed via ORCID (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7992-8789) and Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hW93-foAAAAJ&hl=en). He can be contacted at +27 43 702 9258 or via email at aikudayisi@wsu.ac.za and akinolaikudayisi@gmail.com.

Professor Ikudayisi is actively engaged in interdisciplinary research collaborations and is open to postgraduate supervision, academic exchange, and mentorship opportunities. Beyond academia, he is an inspirational speaker and life coach, passionate about mentoring young people to discover their purpose, unlock their potential, and become responsible leaders. He regularly contributes to seminars, podcasts, and platforms aimed at youth empowerment.

Mr. Mbulelo Phesa

Mbulelo Phesa is a seasoned Civil Engineer whose career spans both industry and academia. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Johannesburg and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education, an MBA from RBS, a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering from CUT, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from RBS, a Bachelor of Technology from WSU, and a National Diploma in Civil Engineering from MUT. His career began at Bosch Munitech, where he worked as a technician on water and asset management projects, before joining the Auditor-General South Africa in 2018 as a Performance Civil Engineering Specialist, evaluating infrastructure performance in line with national public sector standards. In 2019, he transitioned into academia as a lecturer through the New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP) at Walter Sisulu University and has since progressed to a full-time lecturing role. In June 2024, he was appointed Deputy Head of the Civil Engineering Department with oversight of the Ibika Campus. Mr. Phesa remains closely connected to industry, serving on audit committees for the O.R. Tambo District Municipality and the Ntinga Development Agency, and supporting local municipalities in the Eastern Cape on asset management and compliance with MFMA and PFMA. Within the University, he has held leadership positions including Chair of the Community Engagement and Internationalisation Committee in the Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Technology (FASET), and currently serves on multiple faculty and institutional committees in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment, and Information Technology (FEBEIT). His teaching spans Civil Engineering Drawing, Transportation Engineering, Surveying, Geometric Design, and Industrial Projects, while his research interests include water resources management, remote sensing, construction materials, risk management, pavement technology, and traffic engineering. He has contributed to both conferences and journals, and beyond his professional work, he is committed to mentorship, academic development, and community engagement, supporting students, colleagues, and the broader Eastern Cape community.

Courses and Modules Tought:

Diploma

·         Civil Engineering Drawing I

·         Civil Engineering Drawing II

·         Transportation Engineering II
Transportation Engineering III

·         Surveying II
WIL coordinator

Advanced Diploma

·         Industrial Project IV

Geometric Design IV

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9625-5045

Google Scholar:

email address:  mphesa@wsu.ac.za

Mr. Hatitye Pfende

Mr. Hatitye Pfende is a professional engineer with extensive experience in bridge design and construction, structural engineering, and higher education. He/she holds an M.Eng. (Professional) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education from the University of the Witwatersrand, as well as a BSc. Eng. Hons from the University of Zimbabwe. Over the course of his/her career, he/she has contributed to both industry and academia, bringing practical engineering expertise into the classroom. He/she teaches modules including Structural Steel and Timber Design, Structural Analysis, and Geotechnical Engineering, while focusing research efforts on bridge engineering and structural engineering, aiming to advance knowledge and best practices in the built environment.

Email address: hpfende@wsu.ac.za

Mr. Angelo Gangerdine

Qualifications: MEng (University of the Witwatersrand), BSc (Hons) Structural Engineering (University of Pretoria), BTech Civil Engineering (Durban University of Technology) Professional Registration: Pr Tech Eng (ECSA) – Engineering Council of South Africa Profile: Angelo Gangerdine is a professionally registered Civil and Structural Engineer with over 20 years of combined industry and academic experience. He holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) from the University of the Witwatersrand, a BSc (Hons) in Structural Engineering from the University of Pretoria, and a BTech in Civil Engineering from the Durban University of Technology. His professional experience spans multiple engineering sectors, including the port and coastal industry (Transnet projects with ZAA), dam and rail structures such as culverts (ZAA), the nuclear industry (Eskom Koeberg Nuclear Power Station with NSE), industrial and commercial facilities (Toyota Paint Plant 3 and others with BKS), municipal infrastructure projects (civil and structural works with Element Consulting Engineers), and the formwork industry (various structural infrastructure works requiring formwork with Peri-Wiehahn). Angelo’s areas of expertise include reinforced concrete and steel design, water infrastructure, retaining walls, structural rehabilitation, and project management. His research focuses on the rehabilitation and performance of reinforced concrete structures, material durability, and sustainable infrastructure design. Professional Memberships: SAICE, ECSA