By Vera Wisdom-Bassey

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has renewed its commitment towards the development of the girl-child through the use of community projects and enhancing their interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The association recently kicked off its Capacity Development Academy, known as Margaret Aina Oguntala Capacity Development Academy (MAOCADA), in Lagos.  Students from different universities would be trained in different fields.     

The organisers disclosed that at least 150 graduates applied but only 20 qualified, and the beneficiaries have started their training in different skills and technologies.

The organisers stated that, with time, the number of beneficiaries would increase, and they would be able to train 300 students.

The event was graced by dignitaries in the engineering profession, including the deputy governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, and president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Engr. Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari-Wudil, while branches of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) were represented. 

In her speech, Salako-Oyedele commended APWEN for promoting girls in engineering, “We have to do something for the girls, because they are our own future. We are investing in the youth.”

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Salako-Oyedele explained that the youth were the ones to drive the economy and they should be taken seriously. She appealed for support for the initiative.

The deputy governor called on older engineers to mentor the up-coming engineers so that they stay in the profession.

She expressed regret that once the young engineers learn for few periods, they leave their masters workshop and open their own, “yet they are not well trained.  If there is certification, it will make the work more attractive.”

She called on the older engineers to pay the young engineers well, so that they would not take their clients from them.

Earlier, Mrs. Margaret Oguntala, in whose name the academy was instituted, noted that APWEN has been able to align her mission of helping younger women engineers. Oguntala described Madam Nkechi as role model to female young engineers. She expressed delight that APWEN bought her idea of empowering the young female engineers with the vision.

The planning committee chairman, Dr. Felicia Agubuta revealed that by the end of the year, 50 females engineers would have been trained and 300 in five years.