From Civil Foundations to Digital Frontiers: The Planning Philosophy of Abayomi Ologun

By Felicia Nwankwo

In an age when infrastructure must not only be built but also be intelligent, adaptive, and resilient, few professionals embody the evolution of modern project planning like Abayomi Ologun. From drainage systems in Nigeria to cloud-based planning in the United Kingdom, Ologun is redefining what it means to engineer the future—one data-driven milestone at a time.

Born and trained initially in Nigeria, Abayomi Ologun began his professional journey with a strong foundation in civil engineering, earning his BEng from Osun State University. But it’s what he’s built since then that tells the real story—an internationally respected portfolio that stretches across construction, water, energy, and automation sectors, with planning acumen honed through Primavera P6, Power BI, and Agile methodologies.

Today, he is a leading Project Planner at Severn Trent PLC, where he orchestrates some of the UK’s most complex infrastructure efforts. With responsibilities that include crafting NEC-compliant schedules, analyzing critical paths, aligning stakeholders, and monitoring regulatory gates, Ologun is as much a strategist as he is a planner. “Planning is no longer just about managing timelines—it’s about managing intelligence,” he reflects.

This mindset has been a constant throughout Ologun’s career, including during his pivotal role at RSK Group (Proeon Systems Ltd), where he handled planning for fire & gas control systems, high-voltage terminal upgrades, and compressor stations. His introduction of structured reporting systems and real-time planning dashboards helped slash project delays by 25%, earning him industry recognition and peer admiration.

What sets Ologun apart isn’t just his technical precision—it’s his capacity to think ahead of the curve. With a Master’s in Project Management from the University of the West of England and certifications in Power BI, PRINCE2®, Agile, and Oracle Primavera Cloud, Ologun represents a new generation of infrastructure professionals who are equally fluent in engineering logic and digital transformation.

He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consulting (IMC-Nigeria) and the Artificial Intelligence Management and Finance Institute (AIMFIN)—an affirmation of his commitment to future-ready planning that blends classical methodologies with AI-powered forecasting and risk intelligence. His vision? To integrate emerging tech with traditional project cycles to drive cost-effective, responsive, and scalable infrastructure.

Beyond planning rooms and Gantt charts, Ologun’s fingerprints are found in global knowledge systems. As a section editor and editorial board member for multiple international journals, including Engineering Science & Technology Journal and Gulf Journal of Engineering & Technology, he plays a pivotal role in elevating global project management scholarship. He’s reviewed over 30 manuscripts across civil engineering, sustainability, and risk strategy—and published on topics ranging from tropical building design to social housing policy.

His career also reflects an enduring passion for capacity building. Whether facilitating project planning workshops at Severn Trent or mentoring junior planners during internal training at Proeon Systems, Ologun is an educator at heart. His ability to translate advanced planning frameworks into actionable strategies for both field engineers and executives is widely respected.

From laying physical foundations in Nigeria to leading digital transformation in UK infrastructure planning, Abayomi Ologun’s career is a compelling case study in evolution. He stands as a bridge between the analog world of concrete and rebar and the digital frontier of cloud-based controls and AI-powered forecasting.

As infrastructure around the globe faces increasing pressure—from urbanization and climate change to regulatory demands and stakeholder complexity—voices like Ologun’s are vital. He offers more than solutions; he offers frameworks. He doesn’t just ask, “How can we build?” He asks, “How can we build better, faster, and smarter?”

And in that question lies the future of global infrastructure—one that Ologun is helping to design, one data point at a time.

Looking ahead, Ayobami’s vision is expansive. His research interests encompass governance technology, cybersecurity policy, renewable energy, oil and gas governance, and migration policy. He seeks to work in both academic and governmental spaces to build bridges between knowledge and implementation. His ultimate goal? To drive systemic transformation through collaborative, evidence-based policymaking that empowers both institutions and individuals. At a time when the world faces a crisis of coordination, Ayobami offers a model of integrative, empathetic leadership. He is a rare thinker-doer hybrid: equally comfortable presenting scholarly research as he is organizing grassroots environmental action. As policymakers, educators, and environmentalists seek new paradigms for the 21st century, they would do well to watch—and learn from—Ayobami.

His research interests span governance technology, cybersecurity policy, renewable energy, oil and gas governance, and migration policy. He envisions a future where academic inquiry informs practical implementation, and where public institutions are not just reactive but strategically proactive. Whether in a policy think tank, international agency, or university research hub, Ayo seeks to serve as a bridge—linking rigorous evidence to responsive leadership.

At a time when the world faces a crisis of coordination—from climate collapse to geopolitical instability—Ayobami offers a model of integrative, empathetic leadership. He is a rare thinker-doer hybrid: equally comfortable presenting peer-reviewed policy insights to decision-makers as he is leading grassroots sustainability workshops. His unique blend of scholarship, diplomacy, and civic action positions him as a thought leader for a generation that must turn global anxiety into collective agency.

As policymakers, educators, and environmentalists seek new paradigms for the 21st century, they would do well to watch—and learn from—Ayobami.