- The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has told President Tinubu that female engineers can restore Nigeria’s refineries within a year
- During a public lecture in Lagos, APWEN’s chairperson, Atinuke Owolabi, said female engineers are prepared to collaborate in rehabilitating the refineries
- Owolabi also emphasised the importance of empowering local engineers and reducing dependence on foreign experts
Lagos, Nigeria – The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has told President Bola Tinubu that female engineers can fix the nation’s moribund refineries within one year.
This was stated by APWEN’s chairperson, Atinuke Owolabi, during the association’s public lecture and annual general meeting on Saturday, August 19, in Lagos.
Photo credit: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Source: Facebook
She said female engineers in Nigeria have the capacity to restore the refineries to full operation within a year, TheCable reported.
“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.
Empower indigenous engineers, Tinubu told
Owolabi further stressed the need to empower homegrown engineers, noting that Nigeria needs to reduce reliance on foreign experts, Premium Times also reported.
She asked President Tinubu and state governors to give more opportunities to local engineers.
“I want to also implore our leaders, especially our president and governors, to empower indigenous engineers because we are very good,” she said.
Nigerians react
Ogbonna Nkechinyere said on Facebook:
“Very good, what a man cannot do, a woman can do best.”
Ridwan Asafa said:
“Good, let the presidency look into it.”
Ronald Lohor said:
“With all the engineers we have in Nigeria and all over the world, yet the government is telling us the four refineries, none is working!!
“The women engineers have thrown a challenge, let’s see if the government is sincere in fixing up the refineries and take up the challenge. The government has been very insincere about fixing them for years now!!!”
Engr B Dan-asabe said:
“Lovely. Let’s give them a chance. All this while the men couldn’t.”
Tinubu may appoint himself petroleum minister
Meanwhile, President Tinubu may have followed the footstep of his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari by appointing himself the minister of petroleum resources and the newly created Ministry of Gas Resources.
Tinubu, on Wednesday, August 16, assigned portfolios to his ministers.
The president, however, did not assign any ministerial nominees to head the gas and petroleum resources ministries.
Source: Legit.ng
