In a landmark move to empower Nigerian female engineers and drive technological advancement, the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has handed over state-of-the-art innovation hub equipment to the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The equipment includes 3D printers, a laser cutting machine, a CNC machine, 3D pens, complete safety tools, hand drills, and 3D filaments, among others. The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Samson Adeosun received the equipment on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the Rahamon Bello Auditorium, UNILAG.
Staff, students, and dignitaries, including Association executive members, Engr. Rita Mekwe, Engr. Stella John Taiwo, and Engr. Onyekachi Eucharia Nnazor, witnessed the handing over ceremony, led by APWENLagos Chairman, Engr. (Dr.) Atinuke Wuraola-Owolabi, FNSE, who described the donation as a catalyst to reshape the future of engineering in Nigeria. According to her, the donation is geared towards equipping the next generation of engineers with cutting-edge resources.
Engr. (Dr.) Atinuke Wuraola-Owolabi who is the Managing Director/CEO of Wurvicat International Limited, an indigenous engineering firm that specialises in construction, procurement, and project management, pointed out that “This is not just a donation; it’s a revolution in the making.”
She added that, “Today, we’re not just handing over equipment. We’re handing over possibilities. This Innovation Hub is a launchpad for our female engineers to dream big, break barriers, and lead as problem solvers.”
Engr. (Dr.) Owolabi unveiled APWENLagos’ partnership with tech titan Microsoft, promising female students under the Association tagline Encourage, Enhance, and Excel with real-world industry exposure and a high-stakes pitch competition at the hub’s grand opening scheduled for a later date.
Expressing deep gratitude to the leadership of UNILAG, she underscored APWEN’s mission to dismantle gender stereotypes and cultivate innovation.
Her words “ We are mothers, as such the hub that’s currently being created within the faculty welcomes both female and male students, but our spotlight shines brightest on empowering women in engineering.” She also teased a three-compartment hub design, poised to inspire all students with a hunger for innovation to tackle global challenges.
Earlier in his remarks, a visibly-elated Dean, Professor Samson Adeosun traced the collaboration’s roots to pivotal talks with the University management team. He vowed to harness the equipment’s potential to turn bold ideas into world-changing inventions under his leadership.
Acting Director of UNILAG’s Innovation Technology Management Office and APWENLagos UNILAG Coordinator, Dr. Olayinka Adewunmi amplified the project’s vision, describing the hub as a cornerstone of APWEN’s dream to build a world-class tech and innovation ecosystem on campus.
The event wrapped with a buzz-filled tour of the ongoing remodel of the Innovation Hub, where the new equipment will soon hum to life. Founded in 1982 by six visionaries under Engr. Mrs. J.O. Maduka and formally inaugurated in 1983, APWEN, a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, continues to champion female engineers as catalysts for national and global progress.
Reporter: Bayo Salau
Photographs: Michael Joshua
