…want enforcement of standards to curb building collapse, others

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – IN a bid to enforce and sustain standards in the build industry, women engineers under the auspices of Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, APWEN, yesterday, called for inclusion and interagency collaboration to curb incessant building collapse and other burning issues.

Speaking on the sidelines of the International Conference, Exhibition and Annual General Meeting with the theme ‘Designing Adaptive Systems: Engineering Energy, Building Net-Zero, Delivering Tomorrow’s Infrastructure’ organized by APWEN, during a press conference, President, APWEN, Engr Chinyere, Nnenna Igwegbe, FNSE, said the women need the men in the industry to succeed.

Igwegbe called on stakeholders – government agencies, corporate organisations, development partners and professionals to deepen support for programmes, sponsorship, training and other efforts by APWEN to facilitate women into leadership.

She also said supporting a woman engineer means strengthening an entire profession and uplifting a whole community, therefore, she urged them “to invest in women engineers, and in a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable infrastructure for our nation”, adding that they are already shaping the present, and APWEN remains intentional about developing young talents.

She said: “The challenges we may have is that they (women) are not getting the support they need from the men. The men need to know that these women around them are not in competition but they are there to help them get their goals met, see them as collaborative people that you can work with to get to where we want to be.

“What we are asking, basically, as a way of support, is that the government should listen to us. They should have listening ears for the women. Don’t just push us to the background.

“Whatever we bring to you, don’t just jettison it. Look at the point and you will be able to see the traces and the perspective where the women are coming from. Women are basically known as precision makers because we are into details. As an Association, our mandate remains clear: to support, empower and advance the woman engineer at every stage of her journey.”

Meanwhile, she expressed concern on building materials on the heels of the incessant building collapse experienced in the country, where she called for deep analysis and test of imported building materials by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, and also to collaborate with other agencies to ensure adherence to standards as a panacea to building collapse.

The APWEN boss also assured the young engineer and collegiate of being part of the profession as ideas matter, and voice needed, and expressed commitment to carry them along by challenging them and opening doors in order to lead with competence and confidence, saying, “Remember that this Association believes in you, and we are building this future for you and with you.”

She also encouraged girls and young women to come on board as engineers as “engineering is not about structures alone, it is about people. The infrastructure we design and construct is not an end in itself; it is a means to human dignity, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability and national development.”

Meanwhile, Former Minister of Aviation, Engr. Babatunde Omotoba, in a keynote address, pointed out that Nigerian women have demonstrated that they have the knowledge, determination and leadership required to make significant contributions across the engineering profession.

“We have women engineers working in energy, aviation, construction, manufacturing, telecommunications, academia and many other areas.

“We must continue to encourage young girls to see engineering as a profession in which they can excel and lead.

“We also have a responsibility to mentor the next generation. A young woman entering engineering school today should be able to look at the profession and see possibilities for herself. She should see women leading major projects, occupying executive positions, conducting important research and making decisions that affect the future of our country”, Omotoba stated.

In a goodwill message, the President, Nigeria Society of Engineers, NSE, Engr Ali Rabiu, represented by Engr Patricia Opene-Odili, commended the leadership of APWEN for the conference and its theme ‘Engineering Energy, Building Net-Zero, Delivering Tomorrow’s Infrastructure’, which he said Nigeria cannot be left behind following the development, “Climate pressures are intensifying. Energy systems are evolving. Nigeria cannot afford to be a passive observer of these transformations – we must be designers of our future. And that future needs the creativity, expertise and leadership of our women engineers across every field from energy to digital technology to environmental engineering.”

The Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, represented by Head, Energy Infrastructure Department, BPP, Engr. Eugenia Esso Ojeah, spoke on the National Policy on Affirmative Procurement, which speaks to economic inclusion, institutional reform, fiscal responsibility and the creation of opportunities that empower Nigerians to participate meaningfully in national development.

“APWEN has an important role to play in this journey. Beyond professional excellence, there is a need to strengthen the capacity of women engineers to understand and participate effectively in public procurement processes, build sustainable enterprises, form strategic partnerships and take advantage of opportunities within the infrastructure value chain.

“I therefore encourage APWEN and all stakeholders present to view the Affirmative Procurement not merely as a Government policy, but as an opportunity to create a more inclusive economic environment in which women engineers can transform their knowledge, skills and innovation into sustainable enterprises and meaningful participation in national development”, Adedokun added.