The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has called on government and industry leaders to make Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education more accessible to girls from a young age.
Speaking during a webinar to mark the International Day of Women in Engineering, APWEN President Dr Adebisi Osim said girls need early exposure to STEM to close the gender gap. She revealed that only 15% of registered engineers in Nigeria are women.
While stressing the need for mentorship, flexible work programmes, and funding for women-led innovations, the APWEN President also emphasises the need to train women in digital skills, such as Artificial Intelligence and data analysis, to prepare them for future jobs. Other speakers at the event also called for mentoring, school programmes, and data-driven strategies to increase women’s participation and leadership in the field of engineering. They believe girls must not be left behind in the tech-driven world.
