The Chairman, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, Niger State chapter, Muibat Yahya, has called on female students to embrace engineering, saying the profession is not meant for only males.
According to her, female students run away from studying engineering because they feel it belongs to the males.
Yahya made this known at the weekend, when the association honoured some female students who excelled in a science competition in Niger State.
She explained that APWEN was determined to make female students interested in the sciences despite the gender disparity and disinterest in science subjects.
“From what we have seen, we realise female students do not want to study engineering, they feel it is meant for the male gender. We are working to change the mindset of female students, especially those in public secondary schools,” she said.
APWEN rewarded Maryam Zubairu of Government Girls Secondary School, Minna for emerging as the best female student in science in Niger State public secondary schools.
Zubairu came top in the written competition organised by APWEN for over 50 participants selected from schools across the state while Osioje Goodman of Government Day Secondary School Maikunkele and Ezenweta Anita of Government Girls Secondary School, Old Airport came second and third, respectively.
The APWEN President, Elizabeth Eterigho, applauded the state APWEN for initiating the award, saying it was a celebration of the remarkable achievements, dedication, and unwavering determination displayed by the young female secondary school students.
