President, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Engr. Dr. Adebisi Osim, has charged parents to encourage their girl-child to pursue a career in engineering and other STEM fields so that they can unlock doors of limitless possibilities and opportunities in life.
Osim gave the advice during an interview with LEADERSHIP o Monday in Calabar, Cross River State.
LEADERSHIP reports that Engr. Osim had two days earlier delivered a paper at the International Day of the Girl-child in Makurdi, Benue State.
Speaking on the theme: “Elevate Girls’ Voices for Sustainable Development”, the APWEN president stressed that the voices of girls and young women are critical to driving the desired change needed by the society.
“Girls have the power to transform communities, challenge societal norms, and lead innovations that will impact our world positively.
“This is a powerful reminder of our commitment to amplifying the voices of girls as we build a future that is inclusive, equitable, and sustainable,” she maintained.
The APWEN president averred that for the desired transformation to take palace, we must create an enabling environment where voices of the girl-child are not only heard but valued and acted upon.
She called on the federal government to initiate and implement policies that will encourage the girl-child to pursue careers in areas that will give them opportunities to compete favourably with their male counterparts.
“Our Association has consistently been at the forefront of promoting gender equality, encouraging girls to pursue careers in engineering and other STEM fields, it’s the reason we are advocating for policies that will create opportunities for young women to excel.
“Today, more than ever, we reaffirm our commitment to this cause.
“We encourage each one of us to be an advocate for the rights of girls, mentor them, listen to them, support them in every way possible.
“By doing so, we would not only be investing in their future, but also investing in sustainable development of our nation and the world at large,” Engr. Osim stated.
