By Grace Alegba

Government Junior College, Agege, on Friday emerged overall winner of the 2025 Mayen Adetiba Technical Boot Camp (MATBC), organised by APWEN, Lagos Chapter.

The annual boot camp mentors young girls to embrace STEM education and honours Adetiba, one of Nigeria’s first female engineers.

The two-day event drew participants from all six education districts in Lagos State.

Participants engaged in hands-on experiments involving solar energy installation and powering model homes they built.

They also constructed wind turbines as part of the STEM activities.

Regal Memorial Baptist Girls Secondary School placed second, while Wesley Girls Junior Secondary School finished third among 20 participating schools.

Miss Sofiat Shofela of Government Junior College, Agege, spoke about the excitement and challenges during the contest.

Dr Atinuke Owolabi, Chairperson of APWEN Lagos, said the sessions were designed to spark curiosity and passion for engineering.

She said interest in studying engineering rose from two per cent to 50 per cent after the sessions.

Owolabi added that APWEN would support interested girls until they qualify as engineers.

“We are building confidence in them. The future starts now, and they are that future,” she said.

APWEN President, Dr Adebisi Osim, said the theme addressed global sustainability and engineering concerns.

She said the sixth edition brought together young minds, professionals, and innovations to honour Adetiba’s legacy.

According to Osim, Adetiba remains an inspiring trailblazer in Nigerian engineering history.

Citing UNEP, she noted buildings contribute over 37 per cent of energy-related carbon emissions globally.

She described it as a moral and technical duty for engineers to help reverse that trend.

She also outlined benefits of green buildings, including reduced use of energy, water, and materials.

Technology, she said, supports smart designs using IoT, 3D printing, and sustainable materials in construction.

Mrs Margaret Oguntala, NSE President, praised the initiative and Adetiba’s mentorship legacy.

She was represented by Mrs Felicia Agubata, past APWEN President and MATBC programme founder.

Oguntala commended APWEN’s commitment to empowering girls in engineering and STEM.

She described MATBC as one of APWEN’s most innovative initiatives to tackle real-world engineering problems.

Oguntala said APWEN’s consistency in mentoring 100 girls annually shows vision and resilience.

She noted that the theme reflects global challenges in climate change, energy and sustainable urban growth.

The Rector of YABATECH, Mr Ibrahim Adedotun Abdul, was among those honoured at the event.

He praised APWEN and mentors for nurturing future engineers amid declining interest in the profession.

Abdul said engineering remains key to national growth and building a prosperous Nigeria.

The honouree, Mayen Adetiba, shared her continued passion for mentorship even in her seventies. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo