The contributions of women engineers to knowledge development and deepening of Nigeria‘s infrastructure profile, especially, Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State received huge accolades from various personalities and stakeholders.

The Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, JP, Perekule XI, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Nigerian Society of Engineers, amongst others poured premium plaudits on the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) for upscaling the capacity of women engineers and enhancing their leadership potentials.

The occasion was the Inauguration Ceremony of New Executives for the Bonny Chapter and the 5^th Anniversary of APWEN Bonny Chapter with the theme: ‘Empowering Women to Break Frontiers in Engineering’.

Represented by the Chairman of the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC), Se-Alabo Dagogo Wilcox, the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom acknowledged the profound inputs women engineers have been making in different facets of national life and in Bonny Kingdom, praising them for their tenacity and also mainstreaming the grooming of the next generation of engineers through the catch-them-young initiatives.  

Speaking, NLNG’s Managing Director, Dr Philip Mshelbila, who was represented by the gas firm’s General Manager, Production, Adeleye Falade, praised the focused tenacity of APWEN to engage with other stakeholders to expand the scope of opportunities for career growth and leadership roles for women engineers, informing that NLNG was committed to escalating the involvement of women in its present and futuristic business and operational objectives.

In her speech, President of APWEN, Dr Elizabeth Eterigho, FNSE, FNSChE, stated that APWEN was determined to achieve a positive outlook for the future of the girl-child and to build a future generation where everyone is an equal stakeholder, noting that APWEN Bonny Chapter aptly connects with that objective, praising the new Chairman, Linda Ogbu for her leadership qualities, which she expressed the hope that it would immensely impact the growth of the association in Bonny and Rivers State.  

She thanked the Managing Director of NLNG, Dr Philip Mshelbila, and Chairman of NSE, Bonny Branch, Ahmed Abdulwahab, for their relentless support for the association, which she said has helped in no small measure to project APWEN and help her achieve set objectives, while commending the outgoing Chairman of APWEN Bonny Chapter, Edith Hart for her invaluable efforts in providing the right leadership for the chapter and the numerous achievements of the chapter since its inauguration.  

Delivering her Keynote Address on the theme “Empowering Women to Break Frontiers in Engineering”, Dr Erewari Ukoha-Onuoha, a Water Treatment expert and Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering at the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, advanced the need for empowering women engineers, and indeed all professional women, to aspire to the highest prospects in their chosen careers.

Dr Ukoha-Onuoha, who is a registered Engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigerian (COREN), corporate member of several Engineering Associations in Nigeria, asserted that with the right atmosphere, support and motivation, women can break frontiers in the world of Engineering.

On his part, Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Bonny Branch, Ahmed Abdulwahab raised APWEN Bony Chapter for the milestones it has achieved since its inauguration, informing that the NSE will continue to support the association to realize its set objectives of empowering women engineers and raising the next generation of women engineers.

President of the NLNG Residential Area Ladies Association (RALA), Victoria Obakpolor said “whatever is important to women is very important to RALA, stressing that given that APWEN is populated by women, with most of them being members of RALA, her association connects with the passion of APWEN to empower women and its initiatives at reaching out to female students to inculcate in them the desire to pursue careers in Engineering.

On her part, the newly inaugurated Chairman of APWEN Bonny Chapter, Linda Ogbu disclosed that under her watch APWEN will amplify its catch-them-young drive to encourage the girl-child to not only study Engineering but also excel in the world of Engineering, saying that as part of realizing this goal, APWEN will visit schools, organize career talks and competitions and award scholarships, among other initiatives.  

Outgoing Chairman of APWEN Bonny Chapter, Edith Hart thanked the APWEN President, her executives, members of the Bonny Chapter, the NLNG and other multinationals, and all stakeholders for the support the association enjoyed during her time in office, stating that under their APWEN grew her membership, organized variety of activities with various schools aimed at encouraging female students to desire careers in Engineering, and capacity building for her members.  

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) is a non-profit, non-governmental but educational service organization and a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). Inaugurated in 1983, APWEN currently has a membership of 3,500 registered female engineers, 39 chapters and 18 collegiates across the country.

Highlights of the event, which had the Chairman of Bonny LGA, Anengi Wilcox, represented by Adata Bristol, included the decoration with the official sash of the incoming Chairman, Linda Ogbu, by the outgoing Chairman, Edith Hart, award presentations, cutting of the anniversary cake, amongst other varieties.