The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has unveiled a Consultancy Apprenticeship Programme (SECAP) designed to mentor and equip young female engineers with practical, industry-ready skills.

Speaking at the launch, Chairman of the APWEN Lagos Chapter, Atinuke Owolabi, said the initiative goes beyond mentorship by offering participants direct training with established consulting engineering firms, hands-on project experience, industry immersion, and clear career pathways.

“We are proud to announce that 200 young female engineers have already registered for this programme. That means we are not only mentoring but directly empowering 200 young women to enter and thrive in the consulting engineering workforce,” Owolabi said.

She highlighted recent successes, noting that over 20 young engineers secured full employment with the Dangote Group through its Graduate Trainee Programme last month. “This is a clear demonstration that APWEN Lagos is creating real and tangible career pathways for female engineers,” she added.

Owolabi expressed gratitude to the President of the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN), Engr. Kam-Selem Bukar, for co-hosting the launch and delivering the keynote address, as well as to Engr. Funmilayo Kadri, one of APWEN’s founding members and Managing Director of ACEN, for her mentorship and support.

In her remarks, Kadri emphasised the importance of guidance and shared experience in building a strong professional foundation. “To our young engineers, you’re stepping into a field that is dynamic, challenging, and incredibly rewarding. You will face obstacles, yes, but you will also discover opportunities you never imagined. The mentors you’ll meet here are not just here to advise you; they’re here to walk with you, encourage you, and challenge you to think bigger,” she said.

She described the programme as more than an initiative, calling it “the beginning of a movement, a community of women in consulting engineering who lift each other up and open doors for those coming after them.”