by Isqil najim
APWEN President , Engr Felicia Agubata has led the Nigerian Women engineers on a courtesy visit to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC under the leadership of Engr Dr. Maikanti K. Baru. The Meeting was part of the Association’s drive toward promoting its goal at encouraging more women in Engineering.
At the meeting which had in attendance some of the past Presidents and National leaders of the Association that include Engr Nkechi Isigwe, Engr Ini Usoro, Engr Margaret Oguntala , Engr Nnenna Igwegbe among others, the Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru indicates the Corporation’s readiness to collaborate with the Association toward encouraging more female children take up engineering while also promising to support the professional women under the corporation.
Dr. Baru, who himself is an Engineer, commended the Association for it roles in demystifying the Engineering profession as an exclusive vocation for male. He said female engineers bring human and emotional touch to the profession by making sure that every engineering design has a human face.
He said female engineers give good account of themselves in the Oil and Gas Industry, stressing that the corporation would continue to partner APWEN in the quest to take Engineering to a higher level.
“We have female engineers in the rigs, gas stations, refineries and most of our technical services. A female engineer was, indeed, involved in proffering solution to the recent fuel queues. They deliver whenever they are called upon. NNPC is very much committed to the Engineering profession because it is the bedrock of our activities,” Dr. Baru noted.
The Dr Baru, who is also a Fellow of NSE, stated that the corporation would continue to encourage female engineers in the employ of the corporation to participate in the activities of APWEN, assuring that some of them would be sponsored to take part in the forthcoming investiture of the association.
APWEN President, Engr. Felicia Agubata, described NNPC as the pinnacle and enabler of the Nigerian economy, noting that the GMD as a first class engineer was at the fore-front of providing solutions to the challenges of the Oil and Gas Industry.
She applauded the NNPC leadership for its efforts in the national economy and expressed the readiness of the association to work with the corporation.
Apart from the GMD, Dr. Maikanti Baru, others in attendance are: Engr. Saidu Mohammed Chief Operating Officer (COO), Gas and Power, Engr. Anibor Kragha COO, Refineries, Mr. Chidi Momah Secretary to the Corporation, Mr. Yusuf Usman, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division and Mr. Inuwa Waya. On the other side we have the following delegates representing APWEN: Engr.Nkechi Isigwe- past president, Engr. Ini Usoro- past president, Engr. Margaret Oguntala- past vice president of NSE, Engr.Nnenna Igwegbe- NSE National exco member, APWEN National Gen Gec- Aisha Mustafa Umara, Treasurer Funmi Akingbagbohun, Technical Secretary, Dr.Elizabeth Eterigho, Publicity Secretary Chinwe Mbah, APWEN Abuja delegates led by the chapter chairman Engr. Umunna Nwaigwe and Engr Amina Abdulmalik.
About APWEN
The Association of Professional Women Engineer of Nigeria APWEN was formed by a handful of women engineers led by Engr. (Mrs.) J. O. Maduka in 1982 and was formally inaugurated in 1983. It was originally meant to be a pressure group since most men hiring engineers then would rather have women in the kitchen and not on construction sites or behind the desk carrying out engineering designs. APWEN is a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). But unlike the other divisions, APWEN is made up of professional female engineers in all disciplines of engineering. It is also a member of the National Council of Women Societies.
