The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has called for greater participation of women engineers in Nigeria’s energy transition, infrastructure development and drive towards net-zero emissions.

The association said women must have a meaningful role in decisions shaping the country’s future infrastructure and energy systems.

President of APWEN, Chinyere Nnenna Igwegbe, made the call at the association’s International Conference, Exhibition and Annual General Meeting in Abuja, with the theme, ‘Designing Adaptive Systems: Building Energy, Building Net-Zero, Delivering Tomorrow’s Infrastructure.’

Igwegbe said the accelerating effects of climate change, energy transition, rapid urbanisation and emerging technologies had created an urgent need for infrastructure capable of responding to changing conditions while remaining sustainable and resilient.

She said Nigeria and Africa could not afford to remain spectators in the global energy and infrastructure transition, stressing that women engineers must have a meaningful place in designing the systems of the future.

“Women engineers must be at the very centre of that design table, not at its margins,” she said.

She described adaptive systems as infrastructure designed to withstand shocks, respond to changing demand and cope with climate-related pressures.

She added that the pursuit of net-zero emissions required a fundamental rethink of how energy was generated, cities developed and communities served.

Igwegbe urged government, the private sector, industry, academia, professional bodies, development partners and communities to abandon siloed approaches and work together to address Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges.

She said APWEN would continue to serve as a bridge among stakeholders by creating platforms for knowledge exchange and partnerships, as well as converting technical ideas into practical solutions.

“Let this conference be more than a meeting of minds; let it be a marketplace of partnerships,” she said, urging participants to leave with concrete commitments capable of surviving beyond the event.

he APWEN president also highlighted persistent barriers facing women in engineering, including limited access, visibility and opportunities for advancement.

She said the association’s capacity-building programmes, technical training, professional recognition, mentorship and advocacy for gender inclusion were designed to expand opportunities for women engineers and strengthen their contribution to national development.

Igwegbe called on government agencies, corporate organisations, development partners and professional institutions to deepen support for such programmes, sponsor technical training and create clearer pathways for women engineers into leadership positions.

“When you support a woman engineer, you do not support one person; you strengthen an entire profession and uplift a whole community,” she said.

She also called for deliberate investment in young engineers, collegiate members and girls participating in STEM programmes, arguing that the next generation of engineers would be critical to addressing Nigeria’s future infrastructure and energy needs.

According to her, APWEN’s collegiate and young-engineer programmes are designed to provide mentorship, technical development and professional guidance to young women entering the profession.

Addressing young engineers at the conference, Igwegbe said: “You belong in this profession. Your ideas matter. Your voice is needed.”

She said the ultimate test of engineering should not be the structures or systems produced but their impact on people’s lives.

She cited reliable electricity for children to study after dark, protection of communities from flooding and opportunities for young women to pursue engineering as examples of the social impact infrastructure should deliver.

“Engineering must impact lives. Engineering is not about structures alone; it is about people,” she said.

Igwegbe urged participants to use the conference to develop practical commitments around resilient infrastructure, sustainable energy, women’s participation and the development of young engineering talent.

She said APWEN remained committed to promoting infrastructure capable of advancing human dignity, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability and national development.