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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.
Nigerians were among more than 140 residents injured after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at the United Arab Emirates, at the weekend.
This raised fresh fears for thousands of Nigerians living and working in the Gulf nation.
The UAE Ministry of Defence disclosed last Saturday that its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones fired from Iran, describing the attack as a major escalation in the ongoing regional tensions.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the ministry said its air defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the latest assault on March 14.
It added that the attacks left six people dead and 141 others injured, including foreign nationals.
“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry stated.
“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran,” UAE added.
According to the ministry, those killed in the attacks included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
“Although the authorities did not specify the exact locations where the casualties occurred, the ministry said the injured victims were from several countries, including Nigeria.
Others affected include residents from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The list also included Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.
The Tide reports that this development has sparked concern among Nigerian communities in the UAE, where thousands of citizens live and work in sectors such as construction, hospitality, logistics and trade.
Data from Nigeria’s diaspora commission shows that the UAE remains one of the largest destinations for Nigerian migrants in the Middle East, particularly in the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The Nigerian government had in recent years raised concerns over the safety and welfare of its citizens in the country following diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions affecting Nigerians.
Saturday’s attacks have now heightened anxieties within the diaspora community, especially as the Gulf region faces growing military confrontations.
In its statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the country remained fully prepared to confront any threats to its security.
“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities,” the ministry said.
In a separate update, the ministry noted that its defence systems were still actively intercepting missiles and drones.
“UAE air defences are dealing with Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles and drones,” it said.
Regional media reports indicate that the attacks form part of a wider escalation of hostilities between Iran and Western-backed forces in the Middle East.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran has continued sustained missile and drone strikes across the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring states.
The strikes were said to be in retaliation for military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian positions in the region.
Tehran targeted several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, late on Friday and into Saturday.
The attacks also caused infrastructural damage in parts of the UAE.
Meanwhile, Iran’s elite military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that US interests in the UAE would remain legitimate targets.
Iranian state media reported that the group issued the warning after US forces attacked Iranian-controlled islands.
The IRGC specifically mentioned ports, docks and military installations linked to the United States as potential targets.
It also urged residents in the UAE to evacuate areas around ports and military facilities to avoid civilian casualties.
Security analysts say the growing exchange of threats and strike across the Gulf could destabilise the region’s economic and aviation activities if the conflict escalates further.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the five new commissioners sworn-in last Wednesday to put in their best for the development of the State.
Fubara gave the charge during the swearing-in of the commissioners at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
This followed the successful screening of the five commissioners by the Rivers State House of Assembly, last Tuesday.
The five commissioners are Tonye Bellgam, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Mr. Lekue Kenneth, and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.
The Tide reports that the governor had sent nine commissioner-nominees to the Assembly for screening, but the Assembly confirmed only five nominees and rejected the nomination of four over various allegations.
Those rejected by the Assembly are Prof. Dantonye Alasia, Mrs. Charity Demua, Mr. Tamuno Williams, and Otonye Amachree.
The governor congratulated the new commissioners on their appointment, noting that their thorough screening by the Rivers State House of Assembly was a proof of their capabilities.
He urged them to deploy their wealth of experience in various fields and put the State on a fast lane of development.
“Ordinarily, I am supposed to charge you on your responsibilities and how to operate. But that has been taken care of by the screening at the Assembly.
“I believe that going through one of the most rigorous screenings, it is enough to say that for those of you who succeeded, you are fit and ready to deliver to our dear State.
“So there is no further charge. The screening was the charge, so I wish you the best as I don’t expect anything less than the best from you,” Fubara said.
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, destroying a reactivated illegal refinery site in Rivers State and intercepting suspected stolen petroleum products in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Director of Naval Information, Capt Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday.
Folorunsho said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery site at Okolomade Community in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said the action followed credible intelligence that a previously dismantled illegal refining site had resumed operations.
According to him, an Anti–Crude Oil Theft team deployed to the location discovered that the dismantled refining oven had been reconstructed.
“Further exploitation of the area led to the discovery of additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” he said.
Folorunsho added that the illegal refining infrastructure, including ovens, storage tanks, hoses, connected pipes and newly acquired metal components used for illegal refining, was destroyed in line with operational procedures.
He said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, in another operation, intercepted about 3,950 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products at the Nigerian Ports Authority area in Calabar, Cross River State.
He said the interception was based on credible intelligence on suspected siphoning of petroleum products from vessels berthed at the port.
The naval patrol team, according to him, swiftly deployed to the area and traced the illegally siphoned products to a trailer park within the port facility.
“On sighting the naval patrol team, the suspected perpetrators fled the scene, after which the area was cordoned off and the illegally siphoned products secured,” he said.
Folorunsho said further inspection led to the recovery of about 3,950 litres of Automotive Gas Oil stored in drums and jerrycans, which had been evacuated to the naval base for further necessary action in line with extant regulations.
He noted that the successes aligned with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to intensify operations against crude oil theft and other maritime crimes across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Folorunsho reiterated the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the operational tempo of Operation DELTA SENTINEL through intensified surveillance, patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage.