Nigerian Scholar’s Research on Quarry Cost Modelling Earns International Recognition

By Tolulope Oke

A research project carried out by Nigerian engineer Lukman Alabede during his undergraduate studies at the University of Jos has continued to attract international attention, earning him one of the most prestigious academic scholarships in the global mining industry.

Lukman undertook the project while rounding off his Bachelor of Science degree, focusing on Drilling and Blasting Operational Cost Modelling for quarry operations. The study was designed to support better decision-making under uncertainty, especially for prospective and existing investors facing rising development and production costs in quarrying.

In his words, “this research modifies the investigation of the causes of elevated quarry floors, poor fragmentation, and the formation of toes in various Construction Company quarries and recommends best practices to provide good working pit floors and eliminate or reduce the cost of secondary breakage. The methods employed include Drilling performance analysis using statistical tools, modification of secondary breakage cost estimation model using two different existing models, and estimation of the cost of secondary drilling and blasting using the designed modification model and two other existing models; sensitivity analysis.”

Explaining the motivation behind the work, Lukman said the goal was to bridge the gap between technical mining operations and investment decisions.

“I wanted to develop a model that helps operators and investors understand the real cost implications of drilling and blasting, while also accounting for uncertainties that affect productivity and profitability,” he said.

The model incorporated sensitivity analysis and predictive assessment of rock fragmentation before both primary and secondary blasting operations. It also examined the environmental impact of quarrying, including effects on the surrounding ecosystem and issues related to ground control.

In 2019, the research was presented at the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) Conference held in Ogun State, where it attracted wide interest from industry professionals and academics. The work later gained further recognition at the Obasanjo Presidential Library in the same year.

After moving to the United States, Alabede expanded and refined the research, adapting it to broader mining conditions and advanced analytical frameworks. This improved version of the project eventually led to his selection as a recipient of the Syd Peng and Felicia Peng SME Academic Excellence Scholarships, one of the most respected awards in the mining industry.

The Syd Peng and Felicia Peng Ground control in Mining Award is awarded for excellence in ground control technologies. The purpose of the award is to recognize individuals that have demonstrated technical and scientific excellence in advancing the understanding of ground control technologies or approaches by either publication or direct applications in the mining industry.

According to Lukman, the scholarship recognition confirmed the global relevance of research ideas developed in Nigeria.

“It was fulfilling to see a project that started as an undergraduate research in Nigeria grow into work recognised at the highest academic level in the mining industry in the United States,” he said.

The Syd Peng and Felicia Peng scholarships are awarded for innovative contributions in ground control, with a strong focus on improving slope stability and safety in mining operations. They are designed to encourage sustained research efforts that advance safe and efficient mining practices.

Lukman’s achievement highlights how locally developed research, when rigorously pursued, can make meaningful contributions to global mining challenges and position Nigerian scholars on the international stage.