Female Engineers Deserve More Opportunities, Says APWEN Chair

(Swearing-in of the 2025 - 2027 set of executives. Photo Credit:Punch newspaper)

Given their skill and potential, Esther Adejuwon, the chairman of the Ado Ekiti Chapter of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, has argued for more opportunities for female engineers.

Shortly after being sworn in as the association's Ekiti State chairman and the 2025–2027 group of executives, Adejuwon gave a speech in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, expressing faith in the potential of female engineers to grow the engineering profession in the nation.

The organization, which places a high priority on supporting, empowering, female science students in secondary schools and engineering undergraduates undergraduates in tertiary institutions, also celebrated the four best graduates in engineering at Ekiti State University for the 2025/2026 session, all of whom are female.

The graduates — Omojola Adebanji (Mechanical Engineering), Oluwajomiloju Adigun (Computer Engineering), Ruth Adebayo (Electrical and Electronics Engineering) and Praise Olu-Alonge (Civil Engineering) — emerged as best students at the university’s convocation ceremony held on Friday and were honoured and rewarded at the APWEN event.

Adejuwon said the fact that the best engineering graduates across different departments were all female spoke volumes about the competence and strength of women.As a result, we ought to be placed in better and higher positions where we may excel. We want to perform because we are capable and have capacity," she stated.

Her administration is committed "to strengthen the APWEN network, promote continuous development and create opportunities to thrive and lead, continue to inspire members, mentor the younger generation, and uphold the standard of professionalism and integrity," she said.

She said, "I stand as a representative of strong, capable, and visionary women who continue to break barriers and contribute meaningfully to the engineering profession. This moment is not just a personal achievement, but a collective one."

The association's theme, "Engineering empowerment: Women pioneering tech solutions for society," was a call to action, according to APWEN president and event chairman Chinyere Igwegbe, who applauded Adejuwon.

It states that our society's problems—from digital connectivity in rural regions to flood control in Ado Ekiti—will not wait for someone else to find a solution. You'll figure them out," she declared.

Adebimpe Amigun, Igwegbe's representative, accused the new executives of carrying a particular burden because of the topic.

It entails giving young females in Ekiti's elementary and secondary schools the tools they need to write code, hold a hammer, and be creative. It entails enabling recent female graduates to pass exams administered by the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria.  It means empowering practising women engineers to speak up, lead projects and break glass ceilings in the state,” she said.

"We need you, do not just applaud us," Igwegbe said, urging the government and visitors to involve women engineers in their initiatives. Invest in our ideas, hire us, or contract us. Suggest us for technical committees and boards. You may genuinely honor ladies in this way.

Tomilayo Adeniyi, a guest lecturer in the Department of Computer Engineering at Federal University Oye Ekiti, urged female engineers to continue learning in order to develop answers.

Olaoti, Vice Chairman; Felicia Afolayan, General Secretary; Florence Akinola, Financial Secretary; Oluwaseun Kazeem, Treasurer; Feyisayo Jegede, Assistant Secretary; Peace Ogunluyi (Assistant Technical Secretary), Adenike Olowoshile (Public Relations Officer), Segun Olowolagba (Assistant PRO), Omojola Owoeye (ex-officio), Khadijat Temitope (Internal Auditor) and Aderonke Olajide (immediate past chairman) and Christiana Wumi, Technical Secretary, comprise the 2025–2027 executives.