The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has called on stakeholders to invest more in mentorship, adopt creative teaching methods, and inspire young people to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

APWEN President, Dr Adebisi Osim, made the appeal during a FunSTEM competition with the theme “Expanding Horizons in STEM Education and Professional Development Across Nigeria.” The event, organised in partnership with Worley Engineering Services Limited, brought together 13 secondary schools in Lagos and featured hands-on training sessions where pupils learned to transform waste into useful materials, create artworks, make beads, and explore basic engineering principles using everyday items.

Osim stressed that STEM is not just a cluster of academic subjects but a gateway to innovation, problem-solving and building a sustainable future.
“But in Nigeria, like many parts of the world, we’ve got work to do to ensure everyone, especially young women and girls, can step through that gate with confidence,” she said.

She cited a UNESCO report showing that women make up only about 35 per cent of STEM students globally, while in Nigeria, participation is even lower in certain fields. “We cannot afford to leave half our population behind when we are tackling challenges like climate change, renewable energy and digital transformation,” she added.

Osim further explained that expanding STEM horizons is not only about education but also professional development. She noted that continuous learning is essential for engineers, especially as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 identifies STEM as central to continental development, while Nigeria’s National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation emphasises inclusive growth.
She urged teachers to nurture students’ curiosity and challenged young people to “dream big.”

Worley Project Manager, Adedoyin Talabi, said the collaboration with APWEN was designed to promote gender inclusivity. “When we have 75 per cent for girls, we also ensure 25 per cent for boys,” she explained.

Legal Director of the Worley Foundation, Mittal Megha, speaking via Zoom, highlighted STEM education as vital in a world shaped by artificial intelligence. She told the students that early exposure to STEM would equip them with problem-solving skills and prepare them to thrive in future economies.

Chairman of APWEN Lagos Chapter, Mrs Abosede Oyekunle, said the association is deliberately making STEM learning fun and engaging to capture young minds. “We are not just engaging students but also equipping teachers to teach basic scientific principles in creative, practical ways,” she said.

She added that one of the games involved pupils throwing darts at a board, which revealed questions on sustainable engineering, energy and chemical elements. “For the child, it’s fun, but it is also a learning process about STEM while they are enjoying themselves,” she said.

During a practical session, Director of the Waste Museum, Mrs Jumoke Olowowaste, taught pupils how to convert waste into jewellery and household items. “Waste is not waste until you waste it. You can turn all waste into art,” she explained.

Another facilitator, Mrs Tolulope Erinosho, led demonstrations on solar, wind, and electricity generation to spark curiosity about sustainable energy solutions.