News
Monarch, NLNG, Others Hail Women Engineers For Infrastructure Dev
The contributions of women engineers to knowledge development and deepening of infrastructure profile of Nigeria, especially, Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State has received huge accolades from various personalities and stakeholders.
The Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William DappaPepple, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Nigerian Society of Engineers, amongst others, poured encomiums on the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) for upscaling the capacity of women engineers and enhancing their leadership potentials.
They spoke at the occasion of the inauguration of the new executive of its Bonny Chapter and the 5th Anniversary of APWEN with the theme: ‘Empowering Women to Break Frontiers in Engineering’.
Represented by the Chairman of the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC), Se-Alabo Dagogo Claude Wilcox, the Amanyanabo acknowledged the profound inputs women engineers have been making in different facets of national life and in Bonny Kingdom, praising them for their tenacity and also mainstreaming the grooming of the next generation engineers through the catch-them-young initiatives.
Also speaking, NLNG’s Managing Director, Dr Philip Mshelbila, who was represented by the General Manager, Production, Adeleye Falade, praised the comitment of APWEN to engage with other stakeholders to expand the scope of opportunities for career growth and leadership roles for women engineers, explaining that NLNG was committed to escalating the involvement of women in its present and future business and operational objectives.
In her speech, President of APWEN, Dr Elizabeth Eterigho, stated that APWEN was determined to achieve a positive outlook for the future of the girl-child and to build future generation where everyone was an equal stakeholder.
She noted that APWEN aptly connects with that objective, praising the new Chairman, Linda Ogbu for her leadership qualities.
Eterigho thanked Mshelbila, and Chairman of NSE, Bonny Branch, Ahmed Abdulwahab, for their relentless support for the association, which she said has helped in no small measure to project APWEN and help her achieve set objectives.
She also commended the outgoing Chairman of APWEN Bonny Chapter, Mrs Edith Hart for her invaluable efforts in providing the right leadership for the chapter and the numerous achievements of the chapter since its inauguration.
Delivering her keynote address on the theme, “Empowering Women to Break Frontiers in Engineering”, Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering at the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Dr ErewariUkoha-Onuoha,advanced the need for empowering women engineers, and indeed all professional women, to aspire to the highest prospects in their chosen careers.
Ukoha-Onuoha, who is a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigerian (COREN), asserted that with the right atmosphere, support and motivation, women can break frontiers in the world of engineering.
On his part, Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Bonny Branch, Ahmed Abdulwahab, praised APWEN for the milestones it has achieved since its inauguration, explaining that the NSE would continue to support the association to realise its set objectives of empowering women engineers and raising the next generation of engineers.
President of the NLNG Residential Area Ladies Association (RALA), Victoria Obakpolor said “whatever is important to women is very important to RALA”, stressing that given that APWEN was populated by women, with most of them being members of RALA, her association connects with the passion of APWEN to empower women and its initiatives at reaching out to female students to inculcate in them the desire to pursue careers in engineering.
On her part, the newly inaugurated Chairman of APWEN Bonny Chapter, Linda Ogbu disclosed that under her watch, APWEN would amplify its catch-them-young drive to encourage the girl-child to not only study engineering but also excel in the profession, saying that as part of realising this goal, APWEN would visit schools, organise career talks and competitions and award scholarships, among other initiatives.
Outgoing Chairman of APWEN Bonny Chapter, Mrs Edith Hart thanked all stakeholders for the support the association enjoyed during her time in office.
The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) is a non-profit, non-governmental but educational service organisation and a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
Inaugurated in 1983, APWEN currently has a membership of 3,500 registered female engineers, 39 chapters and 18 collegiate across the country.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.