The drive to empower more girls and encourage women into science gets a boost as Association of Women Engineers of Nigeria, APWEN under the leadership of Engr Funmilola Ojelade used the occasion of the World International Day of Women and Girls in Science to promote the capacity development and vocational skill acquisition among Women and girls.
Ojelade, and her entourage visited two different locations in Oyo State, South West of Nigeria to commemorate the day. The First location was to the Forest Products Workshop at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Jericho, Ibadan while the second was to a welding workshop owned and run by a female technologist, Princess Modupeola Aronmolase.
The choice of the two locations was strategic according to the president, Engr Ojelade. She revealed that Association is set to launch a new Initiative tagged “Tools & Tiara” through which they are going to develop the capacities of female craftsmen in various trades; carpentry, welding, electrical technicians and others. The visits were to assess the resources of both facilities and to fashion out a collaboration. The initiative is a part of deliberate intervention of the Association in promoting Vocational Skills acquisition, support for female in technology Entrepreneurship while also encouraging more girls to take up science as career of choice.
At FRIN, the APWEN team was received by the Director General, Prof. Adeshola Adepoju. He was excited at APWEN’s intentions of developing female craftsmen calling it a very laudable initiative. He advised APWEN to ensure that the girls are first sensitized about the advantages of acquiring a trade skill and properly screened before being admitted into the program.
Professor Adepoju noted that many philanthropic and Social Responsibility gestures are unappreciated by many of the recipients and could be a waste if not properly implemented. He promised to provide supports to towards the success of the initiative.
FRIN has a college of Forestry Mechanization that deals with engineering issues in Kaduna. They also have a training school in Ibadan and workshops that can be used to train on wood products.
At the Ibadan welder’s facility, APWEN was received by the founder, Princess Modupeopla Aronmolase along with some of her family members. The President in her address informed Princess Aronmolase that APWEN has come to celebrate the day with team as a woman in a science-related trade. She also added that APWEN would like to include her as part of the trainers for the forthcoming “Tools & Tiara” project, to train girls in in the craft of welding.
Princess Aronmolase was very pleased and expressed her willingness to collaborate with the Association.
On the APWEN President’s entourage were Engr. Dr. Sarah Akintola, the Chairman of APWEN Ibadan Chapter, Engr. ‘Laolu Adedapo-Aisida, APWEN National Financial Secretary, and Engr. Funmilade Akingbagbohun, Deputy National Chairman, NiMechE
It will be recalled that last year, the BBC has featured Mrs Aronmolase Omolola Modupeoluwa who has been into welding work for over 20 years. She developed this skill while in secondary school. Consequently she attended Institute of Technology and a number of seminars and conferences to acquire more knowledge in the trade. Her workshop produced various industrial and domestics machines. Some of the works sighted including Pepper grinder, maize grinders and other agricultural machineries. They are also capable of making industrial parts.
By Isqil Najim @isqilnajim (twitter)
