Dr. Adebisi Osim, the President of Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, has layed emphases on the urgent need for more inclusion of women in the mining industries.
She stated this on Friday in Abuja at the sixth edition of the Nkechinyere Isigwe Annual Lecture themed, “Can Women Thrive in Mining? Breaking Barriers and seizing opportunities in the extractive industries.”
Dr. Osim opened the event by acknowledging the significance of the mining sector in Nigeria’s economy, saying, “This topic is particularly timely given the growing importance of the mining sector.”
She expressed gratitude to the attendees, noting their commitment to fostering inclusivity in an industry traditionally dominated by men.
She said despite the vast potential that the extractive industry holds, women face numerous barriers, including gender stereotypes, limited access to training and workplace discrimination.
“Women have long been under-represented in the extractive industry, yet they possess the skills, resilience, and innovative spirit needed to transform these sectors”
“We will explore strategies for creating an inclusive environment that supports and uplifts women engineers and professionals in this field,” Osim stated.
She also noted that the lecture serves as a “call to action” for all participants to implement actionable solutions to break down the barriers faced by women in the mining sector.
The President, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Margaret Oguntala, who was represented by an official of the association, Kashim Ali, stated, “No country has advanced without engineering,” underscoring the integral role of engineers in driving national growth.
