By Grace Alegba
The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has urged women engineers to embrace visionary leadership.
It also advised them to promote ethical practices and social responsibility for sustainable development and future generations.
APWEN President, Mrs Chinyere Igwegbe, made the call in Lagos at the 2026 International Women in Engineering Day.
The event was organised by APWEN Lagos Chapter with its Victoria Island and Egbin-Ikorodu branches.
It had the theme: ‘Engineering Intelligence: Leading Beyond the Blueprint, Building Enduring Legacies’.
According to Igwegbe, represented by Vice-President Mrs Laolu Adedapo-Aisida, engineering intelligence goes beyond technical competence.
She said it included emotional intelligence, cultural awareness and ethical responsibility in professional practice.
She said: “Engineering intelligence is the ability to apply technical knowledge with emotional intelligence, cultural awareness and ethical responsibility.
“It is the wisdom to ask not just, ‘Can we build this?’ but ‘Should we build this?
“Who will it serve? What impact will it have on our communities and environment?”
Igwegbe urged women engineers to lead through mentorship, innovation and advocacy for gender equity.
She said engineers must consider the societal and environmental effects of their innovations.
The APWEN president said the association’s legacy would be measured by future female engineers.
She also highlighted the importance of creating inclusive opportunities within the profession.
Igwegbe encouraged young women to join the SHEBUILD programme aimed at empowering female engineers.
According to her, the initiative seeks to train 1,000 female engineers and support 100 engineering startups within five years.
She called on government and private-sector stakeholders to create more opportunities for women engineers.
The programme featured a Legacy Builder Award presentation to Mrs Olayinka Abdul.
Abdul is the first female General Manager of the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory. She is also a former president of APWEN.
She expressed satisfaction with APWEN’s growth and rising female participation in engineering.
She said the association had expanded through advocacy and mentorship programmes.
According to her, these efforts have attracted more women into engineering careers.
She added that they had improved retention among women in professional practice.
Abdul said increased awareness was helping remove barriers facing women engineers.
She expressed optimism that more women would attain leadership positions in the sector.
She urged members to mentor younger female engineers and serve as profession ambassadors.
Guest speaker, Mrs Yetunde Holloway, said the INWED theme highlighted lasting engineering legacies.
She said engineers must go beyond technical designs to build value for society.
Holloway noted that engineering intelligence combines expertise with human-centred solutions.
She said human intelligence focused on people, resilience, sustainability and shaping the future.
She added that INWED highlighted engineering’s wider impact on global development.
According to her, engineers must create lasting value through leadership and mentorship.
Holloway said the event honoured pioneering women engineers inspiring future generations.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo