Mrs Mary Afolayan, former president of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), has called on male engineers to support female colleagues in advancing their careers.
Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, Afolayan said such support was vital to enhance women’s visibility within the male-dominated profession.
She stressed that female engineers must be supported, mentored, and encouraged to thrive in their chosen careers.
According to her, women in engineering still face challenges including gender bias and limited leadership opportunities, in spite of their competence and contributions to national development.
She said bridging this gap requires deliberate mentorship, collaboration, and inclusivity from male colleagues.
“This career is male-dominated. Since these women are determined to be here, they should be supported. Male engineers should not occupy the top alone,” she said.
Afolayan noted that female inclusion in engineering stood at 10 per cent years ago, but has now increased to 35 per cent.
*“The target is to achieve a 50-50 ratio of men and women in the profession.
“Senior engineers, both male and female, must help others rise. As the men progress, they should also support their colleagues’ advancement,”* she said.
She cautioned against relying solely on government intervention, stressing that mentorship, resilience, and senior engineers’ guidance are more effective.
Afolayan highlighted that engineering challenges differ across career stages.
She explained that students face rigorous academic demands, while female graduates often battle stereotypes when seeking placements and jobs.
“Women must work harder to prove competence. We must constantly show results because stereotypes remain strong in the profession,” she said.
In spite of these hurdles, she praised APWEN’s role in expanding female participation through outreach programmes in rural areas including Epe and Badagry.
She recalled that during her tenure, APWEN sponsored girls from primary school through university once they chose engineering.
She added that early encouragement is crucial to boosting female participation in science and technology.
On balancing family and career, Afolayan stressed compromise rather than balance.
“I don’t believe in work-life balance. I believe in work-life compromise,” she said.
She observed that some women abandon engineering to maintain their homes, while others sacrifice relationships to pursue careers.
However, she maintained that with determination, women can successfully sustain both.
Afolayan reaffirmed that APWEN will continue to produce competent, result-oriented engineers through mentorship, training, and advocacy against workplace harassment or discrimination.
(NAN)