Experts, including two professional female engineering groups from Nigeria and Zambia, have stressed the need for inclusive policies and capacity-building initiatives to support women in the engineering sector.
The call was made during a virtual public lecture themed “Engineering to Lead: Empowering Women to Rise”, organised by the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN). The forum emphasised sustained advocacy, mentorship, and systemic reforms to improve female representation in leadership roles within engineering.
President of APWEN, Dr Adebisi Osim, led the charge, highlighting the importance of leveraging leadership roles to drive innovation and systemic transformation, especially in the engineering profession. According to her, mentorship programmes and inclusive workplace policies are critical to advancing women’s careers and equipping them to address complex engineering challenges.
Osim, a civil engineer, noted that diverse leadership teams enhance creativity and problem-solving, particularly when tackling global issues such as climate change, infrastructure deficits, and technological innovation.
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Also speaking at the event, Chairperson of the Zambia Women in Engineering Section (ZWES), Agness Mwansa, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to advancing gender equity in the profession. She spoke during the signing of a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ZWES and APWEN, which aims to promote mentorship and leadership opportunities for women engineers.
Mwansa said the partnership aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, which targets gender equality, and SDG 17, which promotes partnerships for sustainable development. “This collaboration will serve as a catalyst for gender inclusivity and inspire a new generation of women leaders in engineering,” she said.
President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Margaret Oguntala, also underscored the need to empower women in leadership positions to foster innovation and solutions to development challenges. She noted that women engineers have consistently demonstrated resilience and adaptability in navigating global challenges, contributing significantly to national and international development goals. “Empowering women in engineering is not just about individual advancement,” Oguntala said. “It is essential for the growth and transformation of the entire profession.”
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President of the International Network for Women in Engineering and Science (INWES), Dr Sarah Peers, drew attention to the ongoing underrepresentation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STE
M) fields.
She called for increased investments in education and global partnerships to narrow the gender gap, stating that women’s full participation is critical to achieving the SDGs.
Vice-Chancellor of Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, Prof. Abiodun Aibinu, stressed the importance of gender mainstreaming in engineering education. He advocated gender-specific enrolment incentives and the establishment of women-focused artificial intelligence and data engineering laboratories to boost female participation in STEM. “There’s a pressing need to foster inclusive learning environments that build leadership and entrepreneurial capacity among young women in engineering,” he said.
Managing Director of the North Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company in Zambia, Mwiche Sekeleti, also lent her voice to the discussion, highlighting how diversity and inclusivity in engineering organisations can improve community development outcomes. She stressed that dismantling societal barriers is key to increasing women’s participation, especially in traditionally male-dominated roles.
Former Vice President of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations, Valerie Agberagba, echoed the need for intentional leadership and solidarity among women engineers. She urged female professionals to uphold ethical standards, support one another, and pursue collective interests to strengthen their influence in the sector.
SOURCE : IN HOUSE
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