The North-East region has emerged as the winner of the “Who Wants to Be an Engineer” competition, organised by the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN). The North-East defeated other geo-political zones to claim first place, with the North-Central and South-South regions taking second and third positions, respectively. The event was part of activities marking the 2025 International Day of Girls in ICT, on Friday in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, APWEN President Dr Adebisi Osim, said the ICT Day, themed “Girls in ICT for Inclusive Digital”, was dedicated to the memory of former APWEN President, Funmilola Ojelade.  Osim described Ojelade as a leader whose contributions to engineering and girl-child empowerment continued to inspire the association. Today is not only a celebration; it is a call to action. It is a reminder that girls belong in tech. We must intentionally bridge the digital gender divide and equip girls with the skills to lead in this era of rapid technological advancement,” Osim said.

She noted that the digital revolution was transforming education, work, communication, and problem-solving, stressing that real transformation must be inclusive, involving every girl regardless of background or economic status. As engineers, we know that innovation thrives on diversity. When girls are given equal opportunities to engage with digital technologies, the solutions they create are more comprehensive, creative, and impactful,” she added.

Osim highlighted APWEN’s initiatives, including mentorship programmes, school outreaches, competitions, and capacity-building efforts aimed at promoting ICT education among girls. She encouraged the participants to aspire to be innovators capable of building robots, designing apps, or creating groundbreaking tech solutions. She also urged the government and stakeholders to support inclusive ICT policies, invest in digital infrastructure, and make digital literacy accessible to all Nigerian girls.

Also speaking at the event, Mrs Margaret Oguntala, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), represented by former APWEN President Dr Ini Usoro, emphasised the need to support schoolgirls in becoming globally competitive in STEM education.

“This move is crucial for enabling our schoolgirls to build a solid foundation and become the best they can be. By equipping them with strong ICT skills, we are opening doors to future careers and empowering them as innovators and leaders,” she said. Oguntala lauded the late Funmilola Ojelade as a passionate advocate for engineering and girl-child education, calling on stakeholders to support APWEN’s efforts.

In her keynote address titled “Empowering Girls in ICT: Unlocking Nigeria’s Digital Future”, Valerie Agberagba noted the underrepresentation of women in the ICT workforce, describing it as a limitation to national development.

She called for quality education, training, mentorship, and strong parental and institutional support to encourage more girls to pursue careers in ICT. Empowering girls and women in ICT is crucial for Nigeria’s digital future. By working together, we can break down barriers and create opportunities for girls and women to thrive in ICT, Agberagba said.