The Associations of professional women Engineers of Nigeria, APWEN Lagos Chapter, on March 8, unveiled three novel initiatives as part of its celebration of International Women Day and Inauguration of its 10th Chairman, Engr (Dr) Atinuke Wuraola Owolabi -Agbaje.
It was indeed a day magnificent day as APWEN Lagos Chapter marked International Women day with two other events, Engr Atinuke Wuraola owlabi officially inaugurated as the 10th Chairman of the Chapter while the Chapter also marked it 20th Anniversary of it founding.
Since founding, the Chapter has become synonymous to innovations as successive leader left their mark in sand of time while uplifting the welfare of Women in Engineering. .
The three main projects unveiled by the new Chairman, ENgr Atikunu Wuraola Owolabi-Agbaje are: launching of Ife Oyedele Innovation Hub, MOMAS Training and the unveiling of Sustainable development Goal 6 Initiative.
Ife Oyedele Technology, and Innovation Hub aimed at empowering women engineers and driving technological innovation in Lagos, Nigeria. This initiative is made possible through the generous donation of a 200‑capacity hall by the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Lagos. The hub primary objective is to create a collaborative ecosystem where female Engineering students ( with 10% of males), young Engineers and professional women engineers can access resources, exchange knowledge, and develop innovative solutions to address societal challenges.
The hub will be equipped with cutting‑edge technology, high‑speed internet connectivity, and modern infrastructure to support various activities such as workshops, seminars, hackathons, and networking events.
The hub will provide the engineering students and women engineers with access to prototyping tools, software development kits, and other resources to facilitate hands‑on experimentation and product development. Other features of the hub are, curated collection of educational resources, research publications, and industry reports to support continuous learning and professional development among members, Networking Opportunities among others.
The Sponsor, Engr Ife Oyedele was on hand to formally unveiled the initiative.
Similarly, the Association unveiled its SDG-6 Initiative in a bid to empower young female engineers within APWEN Lagos Chapter to champion projects and initiatives that contribute to achieving SDG 6 targets. The Initiative was unveiled by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Her Excellency, the former deputy Governor of Lagos state, Princess Adejoke Orelope‑Adefulire. She was represented at the event.
The unveiling of the SGD6 Initiative according to the Chairman, Engr Atinuke Owolabi- Agbaje represents a significant milestone in APWEN Lagos’s commitment to promoting sustainable development and empowering young engineers to drive positive change in society. The SDG 6 aims to ensure access to water and sanitation for all by 2030.
According to Owolabi, the involvement of skilled professionals, especially women engineers, is crucial in implementing sustainable solutions to address these challenges. The initiative will be driven by young engineers under the mentorship and support of APWEN Lagos Chapter.
The third initiative unveiled was the ” MOMAS Innovator of the Year Award” which aims to recognise and celebrate outstanding female engineering students who have demonstrated exceptional innovation, creativity, and leadership in their academic pursuits. The Initiative is sponsored by the Chairman of Momas Engineering Company, Engr (Dr) Kola Balogun, a visionary in indigenous technological advancement.
The Awards aims to encourage and inspire female engineering students to pursue excellence in their studies and to foster a culture of innovation within the engineering community. By recognising and rewarding their achievements, the award aims to motivate more women to actively participate and excel in the field of engineering.
Also at the event, young students of primary and secondary school students were not left out as the Administration of Atinuke Owolabi set the stage for exiting moments ahead.
Meanwhile the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration has pledged to support the innovations of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) targeted at driving the nation’s development and advancement.
This was revealed through his Chief of Staff, Mr Tayo Ayinde, who represented him at the event. He commended the efforts of female engineers in nation building as well as the resilience of Engr Atinuke Owolabi in the politics of Lagos. He recalled her unwavering contributions during last year’s general elections, as the director of the Professional Women Directorate of the Tinubu/Shettima and Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat Independent Campaign Council. He expressed the hope that Owolabi would take the association to a greater height based on her track record.
According to him: “When the 10th APWEN chairman was reeling out her programmes, I discovered that we (Lagos State Government and APWEN) have a lot in common,” he said. “For us in Lagos State, we are ready to partner with you (APWEN) and collaborate with you in all the activities that you require the support of government,” he said.
Earlier in her address, the President of APWEN, Dr. Adebisi Osim, explained that this year’s International Women’s Day theme was a call for all to invest in women, which would accelerate progress in society and the world as a whole.
In her lecture titled ‘Empowering Women through Economic Inclusion for an Equitable Future’, the Guest Speaker, Dr Tinuade Sanda, stated that achieving women’s economic empowerment requires the collaboration of various stakeholders, including government, businesses, NGOs, and community advocates.
Since its founding 20 years ago, the Chapter has been led by vibrant leaders who have distinguished themselves through the years. they are: Engr. Mrs. Monica Nwakaego, Ojukwu, FNSE, FNIEEE (2006‑2007); Engr. Mrs. Abdul Ayoyemi Olayinka, FNSE, (2008‑2009); Engr. Mrs. Ubukovenu Onoja, MNSE (2010‑2011); Engr. Felicia Nnenna Agubata, PhD, FNSE, FNIEEE, (2012‑2013); Engr. Nimotalai A. Muili, FNSE (2014‑2015); Engr. Angelique N.Ikwuka, MNSE (2016 ‑ 2017); Engr. Mrs. ‘Laolu Adedapo‑Aisida, FNSE, (2018‑2019); Engr. Mary Afolayan, MNSE, (2020‑2021); Engr. Monsurah Abimbola Alagbe, FNSE, FNICE, (2022‑2023)
