
The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has called on governments at all levels and industry leaders to be gender-responsive in their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) policies.
The President of APWEN, Dr Adebisi Osim, made the call at an event to mark the 2025 International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the theme for this year’s day is “Together We Engineer: Advancing Women’s Leadership in Engineering”.
Osim said the call was imperative in order to promote inclusion in tandem with this year’s theme.
Quoting the UNESCO’s 2023 Science Report, Osim said only 28 per cent of the world’s engineering graduates are women, and even fewer rise to leadership roles.
She added that in Nigeria, the figure is lower. Specifically, from the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria 2022 data (COREN 2022), about 15 per cent of registered engineers are women,
She explained that the low number of women in engineering was not due to lack of talent, but as a result of systemic barriers, stereotypes, and a lack of enabling structures.
“So, the question before us is: How do we change that? How do we, together, give women engineers a better path?
“It can be done through mentorship and sponsorship. Every woman is a mentor-in-waiting. Let us take deliberate steps to lift others as we climb.
“Another way is through policy and advocacy. We must continue to engage with policymakers to make STEM education accessible to girls.
“I call on government and industry leaders to support gender-responsive STEM policies and fund women-led engineering innovations.”
Osim underscored the need to leverage digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, stressing that the future of engineering is digital.
She advocated for women engineers to be equipped with AI, automation and data analytics skills.
The president also advocated that work-life integration should be supported, so that leadership would not come at the cost of well-being.
“APWEN is exploring flexible work programmes and wellness initiatives for our members, because we believe that a supported woman leads better,” she said.
Osim, therefore, encouraged women and men to continue to create awareness on equipping girls in STEM and mentor one more student.
The National Vice Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers (NIWE), Temitope Aboyeji in a presentation titled “Engineering Inclusion: Building Gender-Balanced Leadership Teams for a Sustainable Future” called for enforcement of gender policies.
According to Aboyeji, this would support diversity, equity and inclusion of women in leadership pipelines.
According to her, engineering inclusion is the intentional effort to ensure that individuals of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and backgrounds have equal access and opportunity to contribute to the engineering profession.
She said this involved removing biases, ensuring access, and building a culture where everyone regardless of gender, race, or background can thrive.
She said it combines diversity, equity, and belonging into the engineering profession.
“The future of engineering depends on inclusion. For too long, the field has struggled with gender imbalance, limiting innovation and sidelining valuable perspectives.
“Engineering inclusion means more than just increasing numbers- it means creating environments where women and men contribute equally, lead confidently, and collaborate effectively.
“Gender-balanced teams are proven to be more creative,’’ she said.
Aboyeji said women engineers bring unique insights that enhance the relevance and effectiveness of engineering solutions.
“To build such teams, we must break down systemic barriers through targeted education policies, mentorship programmes and workplace inclusion strategies.
“Creating environments where all voices are valued, empowers more young women to pursue and thrive in engineering careers.
“Engineering inclusion is neither charity nor fairness, it is a strategic imperative, a mark of smart and forward-thinking leadership for teams and organisations, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute and succeed,” she said. (NAN)
SOURCE : IN HOUSE