The Association of professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, APWEN, under the leadership of Engr Dr Elizabath Eterigho launches an ambitious Project to increase the women STEM workforce to 30%, writers, isqil Najim
The project named, “SheEngineer 30% Club” was an initiative in collaboration with Royal Academy of Engineering, UK. Manager with Support of University of West Scotland, UK and coordinated by Engr Dr Felicia Agubata, a former President of APWEN.
The event which held April 26th at the Tayo Aderiokun lecture theatre at the University of Lagos was attended by dignitaries from industry and thought leaders across the country including the representatives of the Royal Academy of Engineering, UK.
In her address, MSC Quality Management Programme leader, at University of West Scotland, Dr Evi Viza said that the 30% club has the objective of addressing a gap that has been there for years and also aims to change the way business operate, what society expects so as to transform organizations to be productive, and resilient and bring economic prosperity to their communities.
She urged policy makers and more organizations to sign a pledge to join the club saying that it makes business sense to invest in people which is one of the best investments they can do on their business and their country.
According to her, she has working with APWEN and with Dr. Felicia Nnenna Agubata for a the last few years. She said that the learning has gained, as well as the insight into the challenges women engineers face in Nigeria as well as everywhere in the world have changed her as educator and as professional.
She expressed admiration for Nigeria and resilience, innovation of its people. According to her, “Nigeria is a beautiful and complex country but it is the innovation and spirit of the people that made it extraordinary.”
“We are all very lucky to be here today. What we are witnessing and participating into, is part of history. Seeing so many representatives from private and private sector, professionals organisations and the young people that will take over the leadership of country embracing the necessity to include female engineers within their board rooms and workforce is a change making event. There is a new dawn for the engineering sector, the country and the world.” She said.
On her part, the Senior Manager for the Africa Programmes at the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK, Catriona MacArthur, expressed delight in supporting APWEN for the second time through its Africa catalyst programme, adding that through it, professional engineering bodies across Africa are awarded grants so that they can effectively promote the profession, share best practice, and increase local engineering capacity, to help drive development.
“The work that APWEN is doing perfectly highlights these functions in action, from promoting the engineering profession to secondary school students, to sharing best practice through STEM teacher training, and developing a diversity and inclusion policy to ensure that women are represented in senior positions, alongside their male counterparts, ” she stressed.
She noted that engineering sector needs people with different experiences, ideas, and perspectives so as to be able to respond to the best and most innovative solutions to the problems confronting the society.
In her speech, President of APWEN Engr. Dr Elizabeth Eterigho congratulated the grant awardee, Engr. Dr. Felicia Agubata , for securing the project under the phase 4 African Catalyst grant from the Royal Academy of engineering, UK. She lamented that the shortage of young engineers in filling up the spaces/vacancies in the engineering workforce could be a major socio-economic crisis in Nigeria if attention is not given to this sector.
“APWEN as a catalyst for sustainability of female engineers in their profession is therefore excited for this timely intervention by the Royal Academy in sponsoring the SheEngineer 30% club which is believed will enhance gender inclusion. I am aware that the work place in focus are aviation, automobile and energy, in Lagos state.
“To bridge the gap therefore, and for sustainability, the place and role of mentors via mentoring cannot be overemphasized”, she said.
Earlier speaking at the event, the grant awardee and former President of the association, Dr. Felicia Agubata noted that the project has the objective of ensuring that girls begin to see Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects as being ‘non-gendered’.
According to her, “We intend to train and encourage more girls to take up engineering as a career to close the gender gap so as to attain a better gender balance within the engineering sector, with the objective of filling at least 30% positions in their organisations with women by 2030 through a 30 by 30 strategy.
“Our goal is also to strengthen the internal capacity of APWEN to tackle gender inequality in the engineering sector and also expand our influence at all levels, as well as help build up an engineering talent pipeline with the necessary skills to respond to local challenges.”
As a way of tackling identified problems, Agubata noted that it will open more job opportunities for more females, commit employers to retain and support talented women, create positive workplaces through training in equality and diversity issues, as well as support adoption and implementation of gender inclusion policies.
” We plan to organise a regular capacity building training workshop for female engineers from different engineering sectors and launch out training/ awareness campaign in public secondary schools for girls,” the grant awardee stated.
Also at the event were the Vice President, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).Engr Olaolu Ogunduyile; She Engineer 30% Club Programme Manager/ Former President (APWEN) Engr Felicia Dr. Agubata; Engr Anjorin Alaba; President. Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, Engr. Dr. Elizabeth Eterigho; Quality/Project Management, University of the West of Scotland, Dr. Evi Viza,Former President of APWEN, Engr Nnoli Akpedeye; Group Manager, Marketing and Communications, Ibom Air, Mrs. Aniekan Essienette; Managing Director of Anstel Ltd, Kenneth Onyia; Managing Director of Energy Training Centre, Ibiene Okeleke, Head Mechanical Workshop Egbin Power Plc. Engr Bashiru Mohammed; Vice Chairman, (APWEN), Lagos state chapter, Engr Atinuke Owolabi South West coordinator, APWEN, Mrs. Bose Oyekunle; past Chairman, APWEN Lagos, Engr. Laolu Adedapo-Aisida; Chairman APWEN Lagos Chapter, Engr Monsurah Alagbe. pose with participating Students, undergraduates and more
