By Ebunoluwa Sessou

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, APWEN, Lagos chapter has charged her members to commit to excellence, empower the next generation, and contribute meaningfully to society.

The charge was made at the just concluded innovation month in commemoration of the World Creativity and Innovation Day.

With the theme, “Embracing Sustainability in Engineering Innovations and Best Practices,” highlighting the future of our profession, the Chairman, APWEN Lagos chapter, Engr. Atinuke Owolabi MNSE, FNIEEE, said, spirit of excellence and creativity would enable individuals especially engineers change the world.

Owolabi explained that, in a world filled with challenges and opportunities, creativity and innovation which propel progress, women engineers can only champion the pivotal role of innovation in shaping societies and fostering sustainable development.

Her words: “This day reaffirms our dedication to nurturing creativity and innovation within our organization and the broader engineering community. “Step Out and Innovate” encourages women engineers to break barriers, challenge conventions, and devise solutions for a sustainable future.

“We have proactively established an Artificial Intelligence club for female engineering students and young engineers, enriching them with technological insights.

“Additionally, our 200-capacity hall will soon evolve into a hub for resources, technology, and innovation, empowering women and girls in engineering.

“APWEN Lagos remains steadfast in promoting diversity, inclusivity, and excellence in engineering. We encourage all female engineers to embrace innovation and leave an indelible mark on the world.

“Together, let us step out, innovate, and inspire the next generation of women engineers”, she said.

Delivering her lecture, Engr. Idiat Amusu, a past president of APWEN, spoke on sustainability of Artificial Intelligence, AI, in an environment saying the nation cannot be developed only by the government but collective efforts of individuals who believe in innovation.

“As Nigerians, we need to start from the grassroot and encourage the young minds with creative mindset and Ideas to harness those ideas for the good of all.

“The environment belongs to all of us and climate change happens everywhere and the earlier we begin to talk about it the better for the society .

The young ones should create pictures of different ideas and look for solutions that would help their generation by using resources that would not jeopardise their future.

“The challenges we face as citizens is that fact that we do not concentrate on agriculture, forgetting that, once, there is food, most of the challenges are surmounted.

“It is unfortunate that insecurity has taken its toll on the agriculture, thereby, experiencing food scarcity and hike in food prices.

“If the government could provide a conductive environment to thrive, we would be able to solve our problems and insecurity will fade away.

“This singular approach would increase the development of the country and expansion of our economy”, she said.

Highlights of the event was awards presentation to all young engineers and female engineering students who are driving innovation. A-200 Level Mechanical Engineering student of University of Lagos, UNILAG, Miss Kehinde Adegboye and – 200 Level Electronic and Computer Engineering student of Lagos State University, LASU, Okpala Chinaza Goodness took 1st position in the 2024 APWENLagos Innovation competition.

Other were Omolola Olarewaju, Graduate, Masters Program with 3rd position, Chinelo Okafor, Corporate Member of APWEN with 4th position, Oyindamola Deji-Agboola, a-300 Level Electrical & Electronic Engineering student of Olabisi Onabanjo University with 5th and 6th positions among others from other universities in Nigeria.

Other award category was given to the winner of the FAEO-WIE Art Competition, Master Marvel Nwatu, pupil of Treasure House School.