The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Lagos chapter, has called for concerted collaboration towards tackling desertification and other climate change impacts.
The APWEN Chapter Chairperson, Dr Atinuke Owolabi, made the call during a Zoom public lecture to commemorate 2024 World Environment Day (WED).
WED focuses on land restoration, stopping desertification, and building drought resilience.
Owolabi reaffirmed APWEN’s commitment to fostering sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
She said that the event’s theme: “Empowering Nigerian Women Engineers to Lead Sustainable Solutions for Land Restoration and Resilient Futures” resonated importance of women engineers in shaping sustainable and resilient future for Nigeria.
According to her, land restoration is essential for environmental conservation, requiring innovative solutions and dedicated efforts.
“Nigerian women engineers are at the forefront of this mission, bringing expertise, creativity, and a unique perspective to the challenges of land degradation and environmental resilience.
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“Our goal is making sure that our women engineers are empowered by providing them with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to lead, conduct research, and innovate.
“In celebration of World Environment Day, we call upon all stakeholders namely; government agencies, private sector entities, educational institutions, and civil society organisations, to join us in this vital journey.
“Together, we can create impactful strategies to restore our lands and secure a sustainable future for generations to come,” she said.
She listed capacity-building initiatives, awareness campaigns and other programmes of the association aimed at equipping female engineers towards resolving environmental issues to mitigate climate change.
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“By empowering Nigerian women engineers, we can drive the change needed to combat land degradation and build resilient communities. Our collective efforts will contribute significantly to global goals of environmental sustainability and climate resilience,” she said.
Owolabi called for support of Nigerians towards achieving a greener, healthier, and more resilient Nigeria to secure the future.
The guest speaker, Mrs Helen Taiwo, Executive Director (Operations), Lagos Water Corporation, said the 2024 WED theme addressed pressing issues of land restoration, desertification and drought resilience.
Taiwo said over 30 per cent of the world’s land has been degraded, affecting the livelihoods of millions of people while reeling out negative impacts and consequences in various parts of Nigeria.
She proffered solutions while highlighting the important roles of women engineers as problem solvers in ensuring environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
“Empowering Nigerian women engineers is not just a goal; it is a necessity for sustainable development.
“By leading sustainable engineering solutions for land restoration, we can shape our land and secure our future. Together, we can create a resilient, sustainable, and prosperous Nigeria,” she said.
