The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Calabar Chapter, has made a passionate appeal to Nigerian parents to actively support their female children in pursuing science, technology, and engineering careers.
Breaking Gender Barriers in Engineering
Engr. Eme Nyah Enoh, the newly inaugurated APWEN Chairman for Calabar Chapter, delivered this important message during a public lecture and the swearing-in ceremony of the 5th chapter executive held in Calabar. She emphasized the critical need to dismantle social barriers that traditionally portray engineering as a male-dominated field.
"A woman can embrace engineering and excel like her male counterpart," Enoh declared confidently during her address. She directly challenged widespread misconceptions that female engineers often end up performing clerical duties rather than practicing their profession.
Speaking from personal experience, Enoh stated, "I am a civil engineer. I do not work in the office as alleged in some claims. The belief that a woman works only in the office even if she studied engineering is false."
Inspiring the Next Generation
Enoh shared her own journey into engineering, revealing that her career inspiration began during her Junior Secondary School days. "I fell in love with the dressing and asked what it would take to become like her," she recalled, describing how a magazine photograph of a woman wearing professional safety gear and helmet sparked her interest.
The APWEN chair offered practical advice to young girls considering engineering paths, noting that the field offers substantial financial rewards and professional opportunities. "I bought my first car as an engineering student. That is how powerful engineering is," she revealed, while also advising aspiring engineers to "know the nitty-gritty of the profession" rather than just floating through their studies.
Building on Strong Foundations
Enoh explained that her motivation for seeking leadership position stemmed from her desire to strengthen APWEN's presence in Cross River State and "take the association to greater heights."
The immediate past chairman, Engr. Faith Edu-Itam, also contributed to the discussion by emphasizing the need to break gender stereotypes in engineering education and practice. "Engineering offers vast opportunities. You won't need to look for jobs; jobs will come looking for you," Edu-Itam assured the audience. She added that "even as a student engineer, if you know what you are doing, they will bring design work to you."
The event featured a guest lecture by Dr. Nkpa Ogarekpe, Acting Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at University of Cross River State (UNICROSS). He presented on the theme "The Impact of Climate Change on Rainfall Intensity: Implications on Urban Flooding within Calabar Metropolis," urging engineers to incorporate climate change realities into hydraulic structure designs to prevent project failures.
The gathering marked a significant step toward promoting gender diversity in Nigeria's engineering sector while addressing contemporary challenges facing the profession.
