ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL WOMEN ENGINEERS OF NIGERIA (APWEN), LAGOS CHAPTER, ENGR. (DR.) ATINUKE WURAOLA OWOLABI, FNSE, FNIEEE AT THE 2025 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2025 at APWEN LAGOS RESOURCE & INNOVATION HUB, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNILAG
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Our President, Past Presidents, Past Chairmen, Elders, Distinguished Executives, Professional Colleagues, and Young Engineers,
We give all glory to God for another successful engineering year.
I welcome you all to the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Lagos Chapter.
Two years ago, you entrusted me and my executive team with the mandate to lead this great association. Today, I am proud to stand before you with a heart full of gratitude as we’ve fulfilled this great vision together. We as a team set out with a clear goal in mind, that would help us to build stronger systems, empower more members, and position APWEN Lagos as a forward-thinking engineering force. Looking back on what we’ve accomplished, it’s clear to see we did this together.
As today marks the close of the 2023–2025 Executive Council, we thank God for sustaining us through all of it, and we are grateful for the progress we have made on our journey to increase visibility, build capacity, and inspire impact among female engineers, all while encouraging the younger generation to rise with excellence and innovation.
We deeply appreciate our elders, team members, and all APWEN Lagos women: all students, professionals, and future engineers, who joined hands with us in seeing this term through. For all your participation in technical sessions, trainings, outreach, and mentoring programs, it just goes to show that the future of engineering is female.
We give thanks that we recorded no loss among our young engineers or elders under 70. We honour the lives of our elders who have departed from us, as they rest peacefully for all of eternity.
During our time here, we’ve seen a community grow, from students to professionals. We empowered young engineers even when it wasn’t popular, and today, they are pillars of our chapter and we aim to continue to support them.
Although I’m stepping down as Chairman, I will continue to be actively involved in APWENLagos. As a member of the Board at the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) representing Southwest, I am committed to using this position to empower our future engineers and create more opportunities for every member of APWEN.
My tenure as chairman may not have been ideal for everyone, and I sincerely apologize for that. Life teaches us to learn from conflicts and to move beyond our pain.
REPORTS:
2.0 TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS & PUBLIC LECTURES
We hosted impactful monthly knowledge-sharing events that expanded our expertise and explored real engineering solutions.
Some of the topics we discussed are:
• Engineering Professionalism & I – Engr. Akintayo Charles Akintola, FNSE
• Executive Order 5 & Local Capacity Building – Engr. Ibrahim Hamma Dikko, FNSE
• CPD & Sustainability – Engr. Dr. Lola Adetona, FNSE
• Blockchain & IoT in Food Systems – Engr. Adenike Ajayi
• Resilience & Sustainable Growth for Women Engineers – Engr. Funmilayo Kadri, FNSE, FNIEEE
• Workplace Etiquette & Career Growth – Engr. Valerie Agberagba, FNSE
• Transport Infrastructure & Engineering Roles – Engr. Adeyemi Adeniji (LAMATA)
• Innovation Challenges & Female Participation – Engr. Dr. Olayinka Adewumi
• Cashing Out with AI – Engr. Rita Odeigah Arinze
• Plastic Pollution Solutions – Engr. Agharase Onaghise & Adejumoke Olowookere
• Fostering Inclusion & Unconscious Bias – Engr. Oyewole Funso Abebayo, FNSE
• INWED Panel – Engrs. Agboneni, Ogungbile, Olamoyegun, Idowu
• The Impact of CNG Adoption on the overall value chain of the automotive industry in Nigeria: The role of Women Engineers – Engr. Dr. Abdulrasheed Babalola, FNSE
• Emotional Intelligence for Engineers – Engr. Valerie Agberagba, FNSE
3.0 WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS & HACKATHONS
One major breakthrough we had was our ability to host various workshops, trainings and hackathons, which strengthened hands-on skills and bridged the gap between theory and practice. A couple of the sessions we held were:
• Delivered the APWEN Lagos Skill Up Initiative with AUTOGIG (USADF)
• Trained 25 engineers in AutoCAD
• Empowered 38 members via Digital Manufacturing at Microsoft
• Hosted Cybersecurity Workshop Series 1.0 & 2.0
• Received 102 submissions during the SHEnovation Hackathon
• Launched SECAP with 200 young female engineers
• Conducted practical sessions in Mechanical, Solar, and Civil Engineering
STEM OUTREACH & EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES
We inspired over 1,500 girls through STEM-based education and awareness programs.
We have:
Engaged 11 schools on International Day of the Girl Child in Education District 1V
Engaged 10 schools on International Day of Women & Girls in Science in Education District 111
Engaged 10 schools on International Girls in ICT Day in Education District 1
Celebrated the International Children’s Day with Tech Quiz for in collaboration with PlaynLearn Tech
Conducted Blue Skies Air Quality Campaigns
Represented Nigeria at UNESCO Africa Engineering Week in Luanda
Held career talks in Ojo Girls’ Schools, Education District 1, Agege Junior Girls School, Epe schools, Yaba schools, Makoko community, Pan Atlantic University etc.
Celebrated World Engineering Day, World Water Day, IWD, and Menstrual Hygiene Day in collaboration with WaterAid
Mentored 120 girls on health and hygiene
Organized a STEM Holiday Camp in Makoko in honour of Engr. Dr. Felicia Agubata, FNSE and gave our scholarship
Supported She Creates and robotics demos at Pan Atlantic University
5.0 INDUSTRIAL TOURS & EXPOSURE
We bridged the classroom and real-world experience with site visits to:
• Schneider Electric
• Greenpeg Engineering
• Microsoft Africa Transformation Office
• LPV Technologies (Solar)
• Innovia Labs
• AM Realty Ltd (Civil Engineering)
• Crestech Engineering Limited
• GIZ Nigeria
• LASU (Girls’ Campus Tour)
6.0 MENTORSHIP & TRAINEESHIPS
We guided the career paths of young engineers through mentorship and employment support, and:
• Empowered 200 young female engineers under SECAP in collaboration with the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria, ACEN
• Facilitated Job placement with Tranos, Covenant Plus and 20 job placements with Dangote
• Facilitated Corps Members PPA in various companies including Crestech Engineering Limited, which has promised to retain 3 corps members after service.
• Mentored entry-level engineers in Cybersecurity
• Trained 50+ senior engineers in AI tools, honouring Engr. Idiat Amusu, FNSE
7.0 PARTNERSHIPS, APPOINTMENTS & REPRESENTATION
We:
• Signed and implemented an MoU with ACEN
• Represented APWENLagos at GIZ Nigeria’s Energy Support Programme
• Represented NSE on FAEO-Women in Engineering Committee (2024–2027)
• Collaborated with Eko Disco, Crestech, LASG Ministry of Works, Material Testing, Mercilia Technology, Kenol, Dangote and others
8.0 SCHOLARSHIPS & EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
We enabled access to education for girls in underserved communities by:
• Donating free JAMB forms to girls in Epe schools
• Awarding SHEnovation Scholarships to engineering students and young engineers
• Sponsoring Makoko girls back to school and awarded scholarship
• Donating 104 chairs to NYSC Camps and secured PPA for female engineering corps members that were posted to Lagos state.
9.0 INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP & DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
One of our most proud achievements is the newly opened APWENLagos Innovation & Resource Hub at University of Lagos, UNILAG, which is hosting today’s event. This center is a testimony to our revolutionary initiatives, some of which are mentioned here:
• Launched the APWEN Lagos Innovation & Resource Hub at UNILAG
• Donated engineering and innovation equipment and tools to the Faculty of Engineering
• Conducted workshops in AI, simulations, and 3D design
• Initiated a Mural Art Project with the Association of Female Architects of Nigeria
• Launched the APWEN Lagos AI Club to introduce members to artificial intelligence
10.0 WELFARE, CELEBRATIONS & COMMUNITY SUPPORT
We celebrated life and stood by one another by hosting birthday celebrations, retirements, and fellowships; We also:
• Paid condolence visits and attended Fidau prayers
• Held Christmas and Sallah community events
• Conducted a special wellness session on menopause
11.0 AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
We have received so much recognition for our outstanding contributions.
We:
• Won 1st Place in Group Dynamics at the APWEN Calabar AGM 2024
• Celebrated UNILAG’s Collegiate Talent Hunt victory
• Honoured Prof. Toyin Ashiru and Engr. Afolabi at SHEnovation
• Celebrated six female engineers during IWD
• Celebrated five members, including our Vice Chairman, becoming NSE Fellows
12.0 MEMBERSHIP GROWTH
We expanded our membership base as we:
• Welcomed over 120 new members including students, professionals, and retirees
• Strengthened student chapters in UNILAG, YABATECH and LASU
• Encouraged student-to-professional transitions and built a vibrant APWEN Lagos community
13.0 AUGUST 2025 – FINAL MONTH EVENTS
We:
• Hosted a technical meeting on Emotional Intelligence
• Celebrated World Youth Day with the launch of SECAP
• Convened the Lagos Female Engineers Summit and Elders Forum
• Held a Menopause and Wellness Session
• Crowned it all with our AGM, Awards and Elections
Together, we have made great progress. Your encouragement, dedication and belief in our common goal drove each accomplishment. Serving as your Chapter Chairman was a great privilege, and I am incredibly appreciative of the 2023–2025 Executive Team, Committee Leads, and every member of APWEN Lagos.
Let’s keep pushing past boundaries, encouraging one another, reaching new heights, and lighting the path for the next generation of female engineers.
• Our Elders – Thank you for your guidance
• My Excos – Thank you for your strength and brilliance
• Our partners and sponsors – Thank you for your trust
• UNILAG – Thank you for your unwavering support
• All APWEN Lagos members – I salute and love you
• APWEN National – Thank you for the platform
VOTE OF THANKS
• Every woman who stood up and showed up
• Our elders for paving the way
• Our partners for walking with us
• Our members for believing
• Our executive team for making the dream real
We came.
We saw.
We engineered impact.
We are happy as we pass the baton now. I want to sincerely appeal that we continue to support the new executives that will be elected today. May we show them the same sisterhood, love and strength that we have shown each other along this this journey.
The future is bright.
The foundation is strong.
Let’s keep building.
Let’s keep rising.
Let’s keep shining.
With love, joy, and gratitude,
Engr. (Dr.) Atinuke Wuraola Owolabi, FNSE, FNIEEE
10th Chairman, APWEN Lagos Chapter (2023–2025)