Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has urged President Bola Tinubu to allow female engineers the chance to address the issue of the country’s inactive refineries.
Gatekeepers News reports that Atinuke Owolabi, the Chairperson of APWEN, conveyed this request during the organization’s public lecture and annual general meeting held in Lagos on Saturday.
Owolabi emphasized that female engineers in Nigeria possess the capability to rejuvenate the refineries and restore them to full operation within a year.
“All women engineers are ready to come together and see how we can proffer solutions, making sure that we revamp these refineries,” she said.
“So, we call on our president to challenge female engineers to revamp and rehabilitate these refineries, and I want to assure you that, within a year, just challenge us, we will make sure that the refineries would be put into operation by the grace of God.
“It is imperative that our homegrown engineers are empowered and granted the right opportunity to showcase our competence.”
Owolabi emphasized the necessity for Nigeria to decrease its dependence on foreign experts and instead provide chances for local engineers, who are equally or even more skilled.
“I want to also implore our leaders, especially our president and governors, to empower indigenous engineers because we are very good,” she said.
“A country without engineers cannot develop. Together, we shall shatter barriers and triumph over challenges in reaffirmation of the fact that gender should never constrain one’s potential in any domain.”
Chinedu Anyaso, the chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), similarly urged the federal government to prioritize the repair of the existing refineries, highlighting the importance of avoiding excessive reliance on the new Dangote refinery.
