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

By Funmilola Gboteku

Fibre One, a broadband provider in Nigeria, says that the country’s significant broadband access gap was costing it an estimated $15 billion annually.

The Chief Experience Officer of FibreOne, Yinka Isioye, said this during his keynote address at the 21st Titans of Tech Conference, Expo and Awards in Lagos.

The theme of the event was “Game Changers: Shaping the Future of Technology.”

Isioye emphasised the critical importance of broadband, describing it to be as important as oxygen and the foundational infrastructure for all digital ambitions, including education, healthcare, SMEs growth, fintech and smart cities.

He lamented that despite its importance, over 60 per cent of Nigerians and over 70 per cent of Africans still lacked reliable broadband access, leaving millions excluded from vital opportunities.

Highlighting the impact of inadequate connectivity on opportunities, he cited an example of how he missed a life-changing interview years ago due to poor internet access,

“Our internet speeds are five to ten times slower, yet two to four times more costly per megabit per second.

“According to the World Bank, every 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration yields 1.4 per cent GDP growth in developed countries.

“For Nigeria, achieving just 30 per cent additional penetration could unlock at least $19 billion more with a multiplier effect potentially boosting annual GDP growth by over $45 billion,” he said.

Isioye warned that without improved broadband, over 45 million students in Nigeria risked being left behind, while telehealth would remain inaccessible for rural communities.

He noted that Nigeria was losing billions in potential foreign exchange by not becoming a global outsourcing hub.

Isioye stressed that the $15 billion annual cost of the broadband gap was nearly four times Nigeria’s combined health and education budgets, and equivalent to the federal allocations received by one of Nigeria’s 36 states every year.

Isioye identified several key challenges hindering broadband expansion, including exorbitant fibre deployment costs ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 per kilometre in Nigeria.

He attributed these high costs to expenses for civil works, right-of-way (RoW) fees, security and community levies and difficult terrain.

Isioye also highlighted power instability, noting that 30 per cent to 40 per cent of operational expenditure for most providers went to diesel or other power sources.

Furthermore, he noted that the low Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) – between $10 to $20 for Nigerian broadband users compared to $50 in advanced markets – significantly extended return on investment timelines, making the business case challenging.

Despite these hurdles, Isioye lauded Internet Service Providers and Mobile Network Operators for their continued efforts in innovating, investing and expanding networks.

He also commended the strategic moves made by the Nigerian government, including President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to a digital-first economy and the leadership of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, in driving relevant policies.

Isioye, however, called for concrete solutions to bridge the broadband gap.

He suggested mobilising pension funds and local investors for long-term financing and promoting shared rural fibre consortia and MNO/ISP resource pooling, and enabling Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) for efficient rural broadband delivery.

He also advocated for community-driven networks, public-private partnership WiFi zones and the scaling of solar-powered micro-base stations.

Isioye also suggested broadband for job schemes, where the government could offer tax credits to ISPs providing discounted access to households with unemployed youth undergoing digital skills training.

He reiterated FibreOne’s belief that broadband was more than just cables and signals, but “life-changing connectivity” empowering education, innovation, healthcare, and national progress.

Also speaking at the event, the Convener of Titans of Tech Conference, Mr Pedro Aganbi, said that the theme of the event reflected its mission to spotlight the extraordinary individuals and institutions who were not just adapting to change, but driving it.

Aganbi noted that it was also for those bold enough to rethink systems, build smarter solutions and inspire new ways of working and connecting. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Christiana Fadare