The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has charged its members to lead innovative solutions to tackle Niger Delta energy and infrastructure challenges.

The National President of the group, Chinyere Igwegbe, gave the charge on Saturday during the inauguration of the newly elected Rivers chairman and members of his executive in Port Harcourt.

Mrs Igwegbe emphasised the need for members to prioritise good governance and sustainable development in the region.

She also urged them to champion the development of renewable energy, adopt climate-resilient infrastructure, and policy advocacy to accelerate sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.

She charged the new executive “to unite and responsibly carry out the mandate of the association’s development goals effectively”.

Mrs Igwegbe also urged the executive to carry out Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) mentorship for girls in rural areas, solar-powered community initiatives, and skill acquisition programmes for women in rural and riverine communities.

She appealed to government agencies, professional bodies, development partners, and private organisations to support programmes for engineering development and nation-building in the country.

The keynote speaker, Ela Dienye, presented a paper on the theme, “Powering the Niger Delta Women Engineers as Catalysts for Sustainable Energy and Infrastructure Development”.

Ms Dienye described the Niger Delta as a region that has powered the Nigerian economy for decades but continues to face underdevelopment, inadequate infrastructure, and limited social services.

According to her, inadequate electricity supply affects livelihoods, healthcare, education, and small businesses, making energy poverty a critical human development issue rather than merely a technical problem.

She said that women engineers contribute unique perspectives to infrastructure and energy projects, focusing on social impact, community needs, and long-term sustainability within the Niger Delta development space.

She identified stereotypes and societal perceptions as major obstacles discouraging girls and women from pursuing engineering and STEM careers across the country.

Furthermore, Belema Ekine, the Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Port Harcourt Branch, highlighted the growing role of women in engineering.

Ms Ekine described APWEN as a strategic platform for mentoring, empowering, and advancing female engineers, citing their increased participation and leadership in the profession and across the sector in the country.

He emphasised the need for experienced engineers to mentor younger professionals to sustain the growth of the profession.

The outgoing APWEN state chairman, Nnennaya Anthony, said that the chapter had strengthened its engagement with government and industry stakeholders, executed community outreach programmes such as “Power the Girl Child,” and secured partnerships across sectors.

She said that her administration implemented several youth-focused initiatives, including the Victor Osote STEM programme, industrial training placements, and entrepreneurship workshops for students, aimed at preparing the next generation of female engineers.

Ms Anthony’s successor, Ibiye Amafabia, who unveiled her administration’s vision, announced a legacy STEM project designed to reach 2,500 students across the 23 LGAs.

Ms Amafabia said the chapter would implement community-focused programmes in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), digital literacy, healthcare, environmental protection, and engineering services to improve socioeconomic conditions across communities.

She called on government agencies, corporate organisations, educational institutions, NGOs, development partners, and individuals to collaborate with the association in implementing its STEM, welfare, and community development projects.

Highlights of the event included the award of scholarships by the pioneer Rivers chairman of the group for postgraduate degrees to three students of the Rivers State University and the University of Port Harcourt.

There was also the presentation of certificates of recognition to some distinguished members and partners. 

(NAN)