APWEN Akure Inaugurates New Executive, Honours Guest Lecturer with Leadership Award
The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Akure Chapter, has inaugurated its 8th Executive Committee, with *Engr. Prof. Oluwatoyin Adenike Olaseinde-Adegboyegun* assuming office as the new Chairman of the Chapter. The inauguration was held on 21 August 2026 at the Multipurpose Event Centre, Ondo State Development and Property Corporation, Ijapo Estate, Akure.
The event attracted a distinguished gathering of stakeholders from government, academia, industry and the engineering profession. Among the dignitaries in attendance were the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Seun Osamaye, the Ondo State Commissioner for Power and Mineral Resources, Engr. Johnson Alabi, and the President of APWEN, Engr. Chinyere Nnenna Igwegbe. Also present were Engr. Isaac Olorunfemi, FNSE, a former President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, representatives of the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), captains of industry, academics, professional engineers, politicians and other distinguished guests.
A major feature of the ceremony was the lecture titled *“Engineering Inclusive Futures: Advancing Women’s Careers Through Leadership, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships,”* delivered by *Engr. (Dr.) Atinuke Wuraola Owolabi, FNSE, FNIEEE, Member of the North Central Development Commission, Southwest Representative.*
The Guest Speaker was represented at the occasion by the Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE), Akure Chapter, *Engr. Adedokun Adeyemi Adeyonu, FNIEEE.*
In the lecture, Engr. Dr. Owolabi challenged the engineering profession to move beyond simply increasing the number of women in engineering and focus on their meaningful participation, influence and advancement into leadership positions. She identified leadership, innovation and strategic partnerships as essential pillars for building an inclusive engineering future.
She also called for stronger mentorship and sponsorship programmes, greater access to technology, partnerships between professional bodies, universities, government and industry, and deliberate efforts to prepare young women engineers for leadership and innovation.
The Guest Lecturer was subsequently honoured with a Leadership Award in recognition of her professional leadership and contributions to the advancement of women in engineering.
The lecture further highlighted the history of APWEN, which began in 1982 when Engineer Joanna Olutunmbi Maduka and five other women engineers came together to establish what later became APWEN. The Guest Speaker urged the new APWEN Akure leadership to build on this legacy by developing young women engineers, strengthening university and industry partnerships, creating technical and leadership programmes, and establishing effective mentorship and sponsorship pipelines.
The ceremony therefore represented both a leadership transition and a renewed commitment to advancing women in engineering. It brought together key stakeholders around the shared objective of building a profession where women are fully equipped and encouraged to lead, innovate, create businesses, influence policy and contribute meaningfully to national development.
The occasion also demonstrated the growing collaboration among NSE, NIEEE, APWEN and other professional engineering stakeholders in promoting excellence, innovation, professional development and inclusive leadership within the engineering profession.