Anambra commissioner advises parents to encourage girl children to study sciences

Anambra Commissioner for Works, Mr Marcel Ifejiofor has advised parents to encourage their female children to study science subjects in schools and become future engineers.

Ifejiofor made the call in Awka on Monday when he received members of the Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN) in his office.

The commissioner commended APWEN for its contributions and achievements in the growth of the engineering sector.

He assured them that since Ministry of Works was into civil engineering, he would liaise with his colleagues in Housing and Public Utilities to engage the association.

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“This is to assist members without experience to be absorbed by the contractors handling different projects in that Ministry to gain relevant professional experience that will help them to excel.’’

Responding, President of APWEN, Awka Chapter, Mrs Maryjane Okoli, extolled the sterling qualities of Ifejiofor in the engineering sector that earned him a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Okoli said the objective of the organisation was to help women engineers to excel in their career and to help the female children to study courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

She listed some of the association’s achievements to include awarding a scholarship to indigent female children that want to study engineering courses and organising career talks in schools.

Others are soliciting from individuals, organisations through enhancement, recruitment and retention and career development of women engineers through training, mentoring and networking.

However, Okoli said that APWEN would be soliciting for sponsorship and collaboration with individuals and organisations in order to achieve its aims, is an NGO with the sole aim of membership advancement.