Fides Media Living the Faith
By Okoli Sunday
The Commissioner for Works, Anambra State, Engr. Marcel Ifejiofor, has praised the Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN) for their contributions and achievements in the male-dominated Engineering sector.
Engr. Ifejiofor, who played host to APWEN, Awka Chapter, in his office, described women engineers as very serious in their line of duty. He called on parents to educate the girl child to take up science subjects in school in order to become engineers in future which, he noted, would ultimately lead to their choice of Engineering as a profession.
Engr. Marcel assured them that since the Ministry of Works was only into Civil Engineering, he would liaise with his colleagues in Housing and Public Utilities to see ways whereby their members without experience could be absorbed by the contractors handling different projects in those Ministries in order to gain relevant professional experience that would help them excel.
In her response, the President of APWEN, Awka Chapter Engr. Mrs. Maryjane Okoli, extolled the sterling qualities of Engr. Marcel Ifejiofor in the Engineering sector which had earned him a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and other numerous awards. She said the objective of the organization was helping women engineers excel in their career and helping the girl child to take up courses in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Engr. Okoli listed some of their achievements to include giving scholarship to indigent girl child desirous of studying Engineering courses, organizing career talks in schools, and soliciting from individuals and organizations through the enhancement, recruitment, retention and career development of women engineers through training, mentoring and networking.
However, being an NGO with the sole aim of membership advancement, Engr. Okoli Maryjane said APWEN was soliciting for sponsorship and corroboration with individuals and organizations in order to achieve their aims and objectives.