By Angela Atabo
The President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Chinyere Igwegbe, has urged stronger collaboration and increased investment in women and girls pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Speaking at APWEN’s International Women’s Day celebration in Abuja on Tuesday, Igwegbe said the theme, “Give to Gain: Empower Her, Empower All,” underscored the importance of collective effort in driving innovation and national progress.
“Empowerment for women is essential to national growth.
“When we empower women, we do far more than support individuals, we unlock innovation, strengthen economies, and transform communities,” she said, citing former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Igwegbe highlighted that APWEN had advanced women in engineering for decades through mentorship, scholarships, STEM outreach, and advocacy, emphasising that opening doors must be accompanied by support to enable leadership and excellence.
The event recognised five outstanding women engineers for their contributions to the profession, mentorship, and leadership, which Igwegbe described as a testament to resilience and service in transforming communities.
Students from four schools also presented challenges in STEM education, including inadequate laboratories, teaching tools, and poor infrastructure, prompting a call for stakeholders to support underserved communities and improve learning conditions.
She urged the government and industry to support female engineers and invest in STEM, stressing that initiatives such as APWEN created pathways for the next generation of innovators.
Also speaking, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Deputy President Valerie Agberagba, representing NSE President Ali Rabiu, highlighted mentorship as central to advancing women engineers, alongside access to finance, market opportunities, and supportive policies.
Agberagba emphasised strategic partnerships between government, industry, and development organisations, promising that NSE would continue to prioritise visibility, leadership development, and professional support for women engineers nationwide.
Oghale Ojeabure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company said women remained underrepresented in technical roles, accounting for less than 20 per cent of the workforce, urging deliberate action to expand participation in STEM.
Rotimi Amaechi, Former Minister of Transportation, highlighted education’s role in tackling insecurity and poverty, calling for investment in modern infrastructure and science education to strengthen national development.
Former NSE President Kashim Ali stressed that women had proven effective as leaders and resource managers, urging continued support to enable them to contribute more significantly to the country’s growth.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
