President, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Dr Adebisi Osim, yesterday, appealed to federal, states and other stakeholders in education to share the vision of creating a more inclusive and equal Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) community by encouraging more young girls to develop interest in the fields.
She made the appeal at the 2024 World Engineering Day with the theme, “STEM for All: Promoting Inclusivity and Diversity in Engineering for a Sustainable World”, held virtually. The forum attracted students from various schools, mentorship programmes and presentation of scholarships.
Osim argued that engineering is about innovation, problem-solving, and shaping the future, adding that to truly achieve excellence in these domains, there was a need for diverse voices and perspectives at the table.
According to her, society should break down barriers, encourage diversity, and foster an environment that embraces the talents and perspectives of each and every engineer, regardless of their gender.
Osim, a civil engineer, said stakeholders must create mentorship programmes that empower young girls and boys to pursue their dreams without limitations and hold ourselves accountable in ensuring equal access to education, opportunities, and career advancements for all.
“We aim to help women enter, succeed, and remain in engineering careers and believe that diversity is our strength. We are committed to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for girls and boys to pursue careers in STEM,” she said.
President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Margaret Oguntala, commended APWEN for continuing to maintain its objectives, mission of catering for welfare of female engineers and encouraging young girls to take up careers in the engineering profession.
Oguntala, the chairman of the occasion, observed that the association is a good ambassador of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. Other speakers included Prof Gbolabo Ogunwande of the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, OAU Ile-ife; Special Adviser to the Osun State Government on Education, Teniola Lanlehin.
