By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, APWEN, Engr. Dr. Adebisi Osim has charged parents to desist forthwith from discouraging the girl-child from studying engineering courses, stressing that the girl-child can also become better engineers just like their male counterparts.
Osim gave the charge during an interactive session with our correspondent on Wednesday in Calabar.
The APWEN President, who spoke shortly after she and her team coached pupils of Duke Town Primary School how to use waste materials to construct balloon cars, using raw materials like straw, empty water bottles, and rubber line among others material.
She said, “Because they understand what a car is. Because they have to use waste materials like empty water bottles cover as the tire, straws and cover bottles as the wheel. This interests them.
“Give them the practical work, they were very excited as they were doing it, observed their vehicles as they were moving, it made them to feel fulfilled.”
Speaking on the topic ‘Introducing a Girl-Child to Engineering,’ the APWEN President stated that with the girl-child in engineering practice, a lot can be achieved.
She enthused, “To parents, all you need to do is to encourage them, don’t be deterred by the popular maxim that the only place for a woman is in the kitchen.
“We have seen women who did engineering and are there supporting their men. We are not in competition with any body. We are speaking our voice. Let them know that they are part of the system.
“We decided to come to Duke Town Primary School because most of our programmes, we do go to junior secondary school to encourage them. This year it’s primary school.”
The event was rounded off with the association issuing out certificates of participation, gift items and exercise books to all the primary school pupils who participated in the scientific experiment.
