The Lagos Chapter of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) hosted a virtual lecture on World Health Day 2026, calling on members to make regular health checks and wellness habits a priority to lower occupational hazards. Dr Oluwabunmi Fatungase, Chief Medical Director of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, warned that sedentary work, stress and environmental exposure are raising health risks for female engineers. She named hypertension, diabetes, breast and cervical cancers as the main non‑communicable threats and urged early detection through routine examinations. Fatungase advised women to begin screenings at age 20, recommending Pap smears every three years for those without risk factors and mammograms from age 40. She also stressed the importance of mental health, urging women in male‑dominated fields to seek support and professional help. "Health should be prioritised alongside career growth. Early detection saves lives, and professionals must be deliberate about their well‑being," she said.
Chairperson Mrs Bosede Oyekunle said the lecture aimed to spread health awareness and evidence‑based practices among engineers. The agenda featured a safety session on workplace ergonomics, talks on balancing work demands with personal health, and a push for members to champion workplace wellness programmes, organise group screenings for affordability, and adopt healthier lifestyles despite tight schedules. Fitness consultant Mr Daniel Ufeza led light aerobics and dancing to illustrate physical wellbeing.
Dr Fatungase's insistence on early screening and mental‑health support spotlights a growing recognition that engineering careers in Nigeria are exposing women to preventable health threats. By naming specific ages for Pap smears and mammograms, the lecture translates generic health advice into actionable milestones for a profession traditionally focused on technical output rather than personal wellbeing.
The call comes at a time when female engineers increasingly confront desk‑bound roles, high pressure, and environments where occupational health policies are often absent. APWEN's emphasis on ergonomics, group screenings and affordable wellness initiatives reflects an attempt to fill the gap left by employers who rarely embed health programmes into engineering firms.
For rank‑and‑file women engineers, the message translates into a concrete shift in daily routine: scheduling medical appointments from their early twenties, negotiating time for mental‑health resources, and possibly lobbying firms for on‑site health checks. Those who can organise collective screenings may also benefit from reduced costs, making preventive care more attainable.
The event mirrors a broader trend among Nigerian professional bodies to intertwine health advocacy with career development, suggesting that future engineering conferences may routinely incorporate wellness components as a standard expectation.
