Female Engineers Harp On Women Empowerment

Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), has reiterated the need for empowerment of women, saying it is an integral part and a powerful driver of sustainable socio-economic growth and development of any nation.

This was said at the weekend in Abuja during the 5th edition of the Nkechi Isigwe Annual Lecture (NIAL) series with the theme: “Diversity and Inclusion in the Nigerian Extractive Industries: An Entrepreneur’s Perspective.”

In her remarks, APWEN president, Elizabeth Jumoke Eterigho, explained that it was a known and accepted fact that the empowerment of a woman had a higher ripple effect not only on her family, but on the nation at large.

“Women empowerment is an integral part and a powerful driver of sustainable socioeconomic growth and development of any nation. Empowering women promotes their self-worth and confidence, enables them to make their choices, set their own agenda, gain relevant skills and encourage their right to influence social changes for themselves and others,” she said.”

Eterigho quoted the United Nation (UN) Women Empowerment Initiative, which stated that there is a two-way relationship between development and women empowerment. When a woman is adequately empowered and able to gain access to good education, livelihood, healthcare, security and political participation, they feel more secured and empowered which in turn contribute immensely to social and economic development.

She said, “It is in view of this that three widows from Umuahia, Abia State, South East Nigeria, the home town of Nkechi Isigwe, were selected for empowerment at the NIAL maiden edition of the empowerment program. The initiative is expected to enhance the economic lives of the beneficiaries namely; Onu Rosemary, Ebere Uchegbu and Odigbo Akigbo, who were all selected through the Association of Umuahia Indigenes resident in Abuja.

“This initiative we believe particularly will enhance or augment the efforts of the widows in training of their children in schools thereby, living a better life. To sustain this initiative, we call on all well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations who appreciate empowerment of women, particularly, the widows to join APWEN to support this initiative,” she said.

Presenting his lecture, the executive secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, stated that there were huge potentials for entrepreneur in the extractive sector and that women were needed to get involved in the entire value chain of the industry -exploration, production and refining of crude oil as well as mining of our mineral deposits.

“Our goal is to address the huge gap in gender imbalance in employment, investments, and decision-making in organisations in the extractive sector through empirical evidence based on data and constructive engagements.

“Our goal remains to work with you to remove structural barriers that impede women, girls, and other vulnerable groups from participating in sustainable natural resource management and other potential gender impacts of extractive activities. On this note, may I use this opportunity to commend every woman in this hall for rising against all odds and excelling in your various chosen career especially in the field of engineering.

“I wish to restate that we need to do more to expand opportunities for women in the extractive sector. NEITI is ready to offer any support and partnership to help our women realise their full potential in the sector. We call on APWEN to lead this conversation as professionals and provide the needed guidance and expertise in this area,” he said.