The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) says it is addressing food insecurity by equipping young engineers with practical skills in irrigation and agribusiness.
The APWEN President, Dr Adebisi Osim, stated this on Tuesday during an irrigation farming training programme for young engineering graduates of the University of Calabar.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was held at the Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA) Integrated Farm in Calabar.
Osim said the initiative aligns with APWEN’s vision to advance women in engineering while contributing to national and global technological and agricultural development.
According to her, the programme focuses on practical skills acquisition, leadership development and service to humanity.
“As engineers, we are problem-solvers committed to improving lives and strengthening communities,” Osim said.
She explained that the trainees are being empowered to address food insecurity and create sustainable livelihoods through agriculture-driven engineering solutions.
Osim encouraged participants to make the most of the opportunity, noting that the knowledge acquired would enable them to establish farms and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
She also pledged continued mentorship for the trainees, including access to farmland for the practical application of skills gained during the programme.
Speaking at the event, Dr Enow Ayuk, an agronomy consultant with the CRBDA, said the training exposed young engineers to hands-on irrigation farming and integrated agricultural systems.
Ayuk explained that participants were trained in irrigation installation, water management, poultry and fish farming, nursery management and mushroom production.
He added that the trainees also learned solar-powered borehole installation, water reticulation, fertilization systems and greenhouse-based farming techniques.
“This training bridges the gap between theory and practice, enabling young engineers to apply technical knowledge directly to agricultural production,” Ayuk said.
He added that the initiative would reduce dependence on government employment, as participants could become agripreneurs and employers of labor.
One of the trainees, Miss Great Ekeng, described the programme as impactful, saying it provided practical exposure beyond classroom learning.
Ekeng noted that the training demonstrated how irrigation and precision farming could support year-round crop production and improve food availability.
She urged universities to adopt similar practical programmes to ensure graduates remain relevant and job-ready.
Also speaking, an APWEN member, Mrs Justina Ulafor, called on professionals to embrace backyard farming as a way of contributing to Nigeria’s food security efforts.
Ulafor stressed that mentoring young engineers and supporting agribusiness initiatives would strengthen food systems and promote sustainable national development.
