By Angela Atabo

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has called on government, industrial players and other stakeholders to support initiatives aimed at boosting female leadership across the engineering profession.

The group made the call at a zoom public lecture with the theme “Engineering to Lead: Empowering Women to Rise”, organised by APWEN and the Zambia Women in Engineering Section (ZWES) on Monday.

Mrs Margaret Oguntala, President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and a member of APWEN, in her keynote address, highlighted the vital role of women engineers in shaping the future of the profession.

Oguntala said that women could be empowered through education, networking, advocacy and access to funding and called on organisations such as APWEN and others to always support women’s advancement in engineering.

She restated the need to empower women in leadership roles within engineering to drive innovation and problem-solving.

“Empowering women is not only vital for their personal growth but also for the advancement of the engineering profession,” she said.

Dr Adebisi Osim, the President of APWEN, said that empowering women was imperative because women represent less than 15 per cent of engineering professionals in Nigeria, adding that even smaller percentage of them occupy senior leadership positions.

According to Osim, women are not merely problem-solvers; they are architects of the future, designers of solutions that will shape generations to come.

“The engineering profession needs more women in leadership not as a matter of equality alone, but as a strategic imperative for innovation and problem-solving.

“Diverse leadership teams consistently out-perform homogeneous ones, particularly in complex problem-solving environments that characterise modern engineering challenges.

“The future of engineering leadership demands professionals who can navigate technological complexity while addressing social, environmental and economic challenges.

“Women engineers, with our comprehensive approach to problem-solving and our commitment to sustainable solutions, are uniquely positioned to meet these demands.”

According to Osim, research consistently demonstrates that women bring distinct advantages to leadership roles, particularly in engineering contexts; yet for too long, their talents and perspectives have been underrepresented in these crucial conversations.

“How do we correct this imbalance? By leading with purpose, supporting each other and showing the world what empowered women can achieve.”

She explained that the journey from engineering practice to leadership required intentional development in several key areas and urged engineers to cultivate business acumen alongside their technical skills.

She also encouraged them to develop their communication capabilities, build relationships, embrace mentorship and sponsorship and join organisations like APWEN adding that the path to leadership was easier that way.

Ms Mwiche Sekeleti, Managing Director of the North-Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company in Zambia, stressed the importance of diversity and inclusivity in engineering organisations.

Sekeleti emphasised that empowering women in leadership roles could significantly improve community development.

She pointed out that societal barriers should be overcome to increase female participation in these critical sectors, particularly in male-dominated environments.

A former President of APWEN, Valerie Agberagba, reiterated the need for women in engineering to support each other in leadership roles and sustainable projects.

She stated that collaborative efforts among women were essential for overcoming the common challenges faced by women engineers across the globe.

Agberagba highlighted the importance of cross-border capacity-building initiatives in empowering women engineers and developing sustainable projects.

“These collaborative efforts help to share knowledge and resources across different organisations,” she said.

She also stressed the importance of ethical practices and intentionality in leadership, urging women engineers to prioritise collective interests over personal gains to strengthen their leadership presence. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu