Eterigho said this at the 5th Zambia Women in Engineering Conference. She noted that engineering plays a crucial role in daily lives, from the buildings we live in, to the technology we use, adding that development of any country is measured with the level of infrastructure.
Speaking on “Job Creation through Homegrown Engineering Solutions: The Perspective of Women in Engineering”, Eterigho said engineering has been seen as a male-dominated profession, with women being underrepresented and facing various barriers to entry and advancement. However, she pointed out that women have a vital role to play in the field and their participation is essential for creating innovative and effective solutions.
“Homegrown engineering solutions can also provide a unique opportunity for women to participate in the workforce and drive economic growth. By promoting diversity and inclusion in engineering, we can tap into a wider range of perspectives, experiences, and ideas, which can lead to more creative and impactful solutions. As our cities and towns grow, we need engineers who can design and build the roads, bridges, and buildings that we rely on. When we talk about job creation through engineering solutions, it is important to also consider the perspective of women in this field,” she said.
She told the gathering that engineering is a key driver of job creation, especially when the focus is on developing homegrown solutions.
The APWEN president said: “By homegrown solution, I’m referring to engineering solutions that are developed or created and implemented locally, using the resources and expertise of our own communities. These solutions are based on the principle of simplicity, adaptability, affordability and sustainability. This could include innovations in renewable energy, infrastructure development, or even agricultural technology. These solutions may be technologies or products that improve the quality of life for people in their homes or communities.
“These solutions are often developed by people who have a deep understanding of the local context and are able to innovate and create solutions that are appropriate for their unique circumstances. These groups of people are engineers, scientists and technologists.”
According to her, home grown engineering solutions needed also include solar panels, batteries and various components of these systems, solar-powered cookers, low cost drip irrigation systems, small-scale wind turbines, and many others.
However, she lamented that “leaders often rely on foreign companies to provide us with the technology we need, which can be expensive, destroys the economy and most times doesn’t meet specific needs.”
Indigenous engineers, she said, can develop low-cost, high-efficiency water filtration systems made from locally available material tailored to the specific needs of the communities.
“Home grown engineering solutions are innovative, locally developed engineering solutions that use what is available to address a specific problem. They are key to sustainable development and improving the quality of life of people in local communities and can be, Do it yourself and Do it together collaboration solutions. By doing so, they create jobs, improve access to clean water, and stimulate economic growth. This will create a sustainable source of jobs that can support our communities for years to come,” she said.
She lamented that despite significant progress, women still face challenges in the engineering field that prevent them from fully contributing to the industry as studies have shown that women are underrepresented in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics fields.
“We must continue to address the barriers and biases that prevent women from entering and thriving in the field, including lack of access to education, mentorship, and opportunities for advancement. Women bring unique perspectives to the development of solutions that address issues such as access to water, sanitation, energy, and healthcare, which are often experienced more acutely by women. By investing in our own engineers and innovators, and most importantly, women engineers, we can create jobs, drive economic growth, and tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” Eterigho added.
