The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has inaugurated a new executive council, with leaders calling for expanded opportunities, stronger mentorship, and greater inclusion of women in the engineering profession across the country.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Ado Ekiti, the new state chairperson emphasised that women engineers in Nigeria have consistently demonstrated competence and should be given more leadership roles and access to impactful engineering projects.
The newly sworn-in leadership stressed the need to:
Increase opportunities for women in engineering practice
Strengthen mentorship programmes for female students in STEM
Promote professional development and leadership pathways
Break barriers limiting women’s participation in technical roles
They noted that empowering women engineers is not only a gender issue but a national development priority, given their contributions to innovation and infrastructure growth.
APWEN also highlighted its ongoing commitment to supporting:
Female secondary school students interested in STEM
Engineering undergraduates across Nigerian universities
Young graduates preparing for professional certification
The association continues to run mentorship initiatives aimed at increasing female participation in engineering disciplines such as civil, mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering.
Stakeholders at the event noted that improving gender inclusion in engineering is critical for:
National infrastructure development
Innovation and technological advancement
Bridging the gender gap in STEM fields
Strengthening Nigeria’s technical workforce
Experts say female engineers already contribute significantly but still face structural barriers in career advancement and leadership access.
The inauguration reflects a broader push across professional bodies in Nigeria to:
Encourage diversity in technical professions
Expand leadership representation for women
Build stronger pipelines for future engineers
APWEN continues to position itself as a leading voice advocating for gender equity in engineering and national development through STEM empowerment.