The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has called on women engineers to acquire essential skills to transition into leadership roles. This was stated by Mrs Chinyere Igwegbe, the association's President, during a webinar on women leaders in policy and engineering.
The webinar, titled "Emboldened Without Boundaries (EWB) 2.0", featured a guest speaker, Mrs Chichi Emenike, who stressed the importance of continuous learning and self-development for women engineers seeking leadership positions. Emenike noted that women engineers must acquire critical skills such as financial modelling, data analysis, and emotional intelligence to succeed.
She also emphasized the need for intentional career growth, mentorship, and sponsorship to support women engineers in their career advancement. Emenike urged women to be proactive in driving change and seeking leadership opportunities, while remaining open-minded and committed to continuous learning.
Mrs Bosede Oyekunle, the Chairman of APWEN's Lagos Chapter, moderated the session and urged members to apply the actionable insights discussed during the webinar.
The APWEN webinar highlights the systemic barriers that women engineers face in Nigeria, particularly the patriarchal nature of society. The emphasis on acquiring essential skills and seeking mentorship and sponsorship is a clear call to action for women engineers to challenge these barriers. However, it is also a reminder that the onus is on women to take proactive steps to drive change and seek leadership opportunities. The real question is, what support systems are in place to facilitate this change? The Nigerian government and institutions must take concrete steps to address the patriarchal culture and provide equal opportunities for women engineers to thrive.
