We Can Revive Nigeria’s Refineries, Women Engineers Appeal To Tinubu

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) urged President Bola Tinubu to provide female engineers with the opportunity to address the nation’s dormant refineries. During the association’s public lecture and Annual General Meeting in Ikeja, Atinuke Owolabi, the newly-elected chairperson of the APWEN Lagos Chapter, made this plea.

Owolabi expressed confidence that female engineers across different fields of expertise could rejuvenate the refineries within a year. She emphasized their willingness to collaborate and find solutions to revamp the refineries, and called upon President Tinubu to challenge female engineers to undertake this task. She asserted that with the collective effort of female engineers, the refineries could be operational within a year.

Owolabi stressed the importance of empowering indigenous engineers and local talent for national development. She highlighted that the inherent qualities of women, such as effective management skills and excellence, should be harnessed not only for refinery projects but also for other critical infrastructure like roads.

Furthermore, Owolabi urged Nigeria to reduce its dependence on foreign experts and prioritize local engineers, who are equally or even more capable than their foreign counterparts. She emphasized that a country’s development hinges on its engineers and called on leaders to empower and support the growth of local engineering expertise.

Owolabi, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, committed to promoting mentorship and skill development for young engineers during her tenure. She also pledged collaboration with other NGOs and outlined planned development programs for three Lagos communities.

The guest speaker, Olayinka Abdul, addressed the theme of “The Role of Female Engineers in Building Sustainable Infrastructure.” She highlighted the urgency of adopting green alternatives due to rising fuel prices and emphasized the benefits of green buildings in terms of energy conservation and long-term savings.

Abdul commended Lagos for its investment in renewable energy and listed completed and ongoing projects across various sectors. She lamented the neglect of viable local technologies in favor of trending foreign options and recommended that APWEN engage communities to teach them how to generate power from waste.

Abdul also discussed strategies for female engineers to combat workplace discrimination and to seek mentorship from male colleagues. The event’s panelists provided solutions to the issue of inadequate water supply in Lagos State and proposed ways to enhance the capacity of female engineers through mentorship and advocacy.