Empowering Voices, Transforming the Future
Every year on June 23rd, we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), a day dedicated to honoring the outstanding contributions of women in engineering and inspiring the next generation of female engineers. INWED provides a platform to recognize the achievements of women engineers worldwide and highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion in the engineering sector.
In line with this year’s #INWED24 theme, “Enhanced by Engineering,” we are excited to share the inspiring stories of women from the Wetech community. This blog post aims to highlight how engineering has significantly enhanced their lives and careers. By showcasing their innovative projects, research, or personal journeys, we hope to inspire other women to pursue and excel in the field of engineering.
We invited members of our community to share their stories with us, and we were thrilled with the response. Seven remarkable women stepped forward to participate. Based on the information they provided, we gathered insights into their current projects, how engineering has shaped their lives, and their advice for aspiring female engineers. Join us as we delve into their stories and celebrate their achievements.
The Power of Engineering
Women in engineering in Nigeria are crucial for driving innovation and addressing national challenges. Despite only about 5% of engineers being women (Sun Media Foundation 2024), their contributions are essential for the industry’s progress and sustainability. Nigerian women engineers bring diverse perspectives and creative solutions, making significant impacts across various sectors. Their achievements serve as inspiration for future generations.
This year’s INWED theme, “Enhanced by Engineering,” highlights how engineering transforms the lives of women. The stories in this post showcase the innovative projects, research, and inspiring journeys of Nigerian women engineers. By sharing these achievements, we hope to encourage more women in Nigeria to pursue and excel in engineering, contributing to the field’s dynamic growth.
Individual Stories
Ahabwe Agnes Lynn – Biomedical Engineer
Ahabwe Agnes Lynn is currently working as a research assistant, focusing on a groundbreaking project involving Electroencephalography (EEG) for African populations. EEG technology measures and records brain activity via electrodes placed on the scalp. However, the impedance caused by thick, coily hair in African populations can lead to inaccurate measurements. To address this bias, Agnes’s project is modifying electrodes and their placement to reduce impedance. Innovative methods such as braiding the hair to expose the scalp and providing attachable Sevo clips to the electrodes are being tested in the lab. This work aims to ensure accurate brain activity measurements for all populations, regardless of hair type. More about the project.
Agnes’s journey in engineering has profoundly shaped her career and personal development. Starting in a hospital setting, she worked with various medical equipment and later joined a distribution company specializing in laboratory diagnostic tools. One of her defining moments was on her first day at the company, where she was tasked with troubleshooting a faulty chemistry analyzer without prior experience. This hands-on learning approach taught her the importance of practical skills over purely theoretical knowledge. This experience helped Agnes develop a problem-solving mindset, viewing issues as opportunities rather than obstacles. It also influenced her approach to programming challenges, where she focuses on understanding the data before deciding on a solution. Engineering has enhanced her ability to think critically and adapt to new challenges, fostering a continuous learning mentality.
Her advice to aspiring engineers? “Engineering can be daunting and challenging. You’d not only be learning the trade but also proving to the world that you are capable and working twice as hard to show you belong there. However, you don’t have to prove your worth to anyone except yourself. Simply do your work and achieve your set goals. Let your victories speak for you.” Agnes firmly believes in the power of practical experience and encourages emerging engineers to embrace hands-on learning.
Reflecting on her career, Agnes shares, “Engineering has given me the platform to make a tangible difference in the world. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact of my work on sustainability and the environment.” Her satisfaction comes from knowing that her work not only tackles technical problems but also makes a tangible difference in people’s health and well-being. It’s this impact that keeps her driven and passionate about her career in engineering.
Agnes has achieved significant milestones, including admission to Carnegie Mellon University and participating in the UBORA Biomedical Design Challenge 2018. However, finding employment in the biomedical engineering field in Uganda has been challenging. She faced difficulties securing a fully paid position and had to adapt to roles outside her expertise. Despite these challenges, her resilience and adaptability have driven her success. Agnes has learned valuable skills and used her knowledge of laboratory diagnostic equipment to contribute meaningfully to discussions. Her resilience and adaptability helped her navigate these obstacles and continue progressing in her career.
Engineering is a wonderful career that requires resilience, wit, and cunning to achieve your goals. Stay committed to your path, and the rewards will follow.
Fatimah Ayodele Akanbi – Frontend Developer
Fatimah Ayodele Akanbi currently works for Intrapair Technologies Limited, where she contributes to building a variety of software solutions across different sectors. One of her notable projects involves developing a web application for the healthcare sector, aimed at streamlining patient management, hospital records, and improving communication between healthcare providers and patients. In this project, she is responsible for designing and implementing the frontend interface, ensuring it is user-friendly, responsive, and accessible.
Engineering has significantly enhanced both her life and career in various ways. Professionally, it has provided her with a sustainable income and the flexibility to work from home, which allows her to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This remote work arrangement is incredibly important for her personal well-being and productivity.
Moreover, engineering has empowered her to contribute positively to her community. Through her role as a frontend developer, she has worked on projects that solve real-world problems and improve people’s lives. For instance, the healthcare application she is currently developing is designed to make essential services more accessible and efficient for users.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of her career has been mentoring beginners in the tech world. Sharing her knowledge and guiding others as they embark on their engineering journeys has been incredibly rewarding. She has been able to support and inspire the next generation of tech innovators, particularly young women, by providing mentorship and teaching coding.
Her advice to aspiring engineers? “Stay passionate, persistent, and never underestimate the impact you can make. Remember, your unique perspective as a woman in engineering is valuable. Your contributions can lead to innovative solutions within the field.”
Reflecting on her career, she shares, “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the practical impacts of my solutions in real-world applications.” Her satisfaction comes from knowing that her work not only tackles technical problems but also makes a tangible difference in people’s health and well-being. It’s this impact that keeps her driven and passionate about her career in engineering.
One of the significant achievements in her engineering career came during her volunteer work with KTC in partnership with Chess-in-Slums, an initiative focused on teaching coding to underprivileged boys from slums. Starting with boys who had never even switched on a laptop, she taught them the basics of coding and web development over several weeks. Witnessing their transformation and the moment they successfully coded and demonstrated their own websites was profoundly rewarding. This project reinforced her belief in the importance of giving back to the community and the impact of technology education.
However, her journey hasn’t been without challenges. Mastering coding in the early stages was difficult, and keeping up with the fast-paced evolution of technology was overwhelming at times. Determined to overcome these hurdles, she sought out various resources, including online tutorials, coding bootcamps, and programming textbooks. Joining coding communities and forums also helped her learn from others’ experiences.
Mentorship played a crucial role in her journey. Connecting with experienced engineers provided her with guidance, support, and encouragement, helping her navigate difficult topics and improve her coding skills. This experience taught her the importance of resilience and seeking help when needed, reinforcing her belief in the power of mentorship and inspiring her to mentor others.
Roselyn Ogbonnia – Information Security Officer
Roselyn Ogbonnia is currently working on innovative cybersecurity projects. She is developing a tool to detect user credential leakage and alert both users and third-party service providers when credentials are compromised. Additionally, she is researching and building models to update an existing spam filter and XDR system to detect and block new types of phishing emails.
Engineering has significantly enhanced Roselyn’s confidence and problem-solving skills. Her experience as a Cybersecurity Engineer has opened her mind to embracing solutions and navigating complex tools with ease. This has made her approach problems more confidently and effectively.
Her advice to aspiring engineers is to “Please don’t skip the fundamental knowledge. If it’s not available at your place of learning, go outside of your way to source for granular understanding. You can’t do good engineering without tenacity to solve problems. Fall in love with finding solutions and thinking outside of the box.”
Roselyn was inspired to pursue a career in engineering because it was traditionally seen as a male-dominated field. She wanted to challenge herself and prove that she could excel. Learning from both school and peers, she developed a passion for technology, and everything began to make sense in a new way.
Among her achievements, Roselyn was named Best Female Tutor in the Faculty of Engineering in 2019, elected as the first female Eleco Chairwoman of the Association of Computer Engineering Department (ACES) in 2018, received the Award of Excellence as Director of Special Projects from the African Women in Leadership Organization (AWLO) in 2023, and was recognized as Rookie of the Month during Cybersecurity Month by CyberSoc Africa in 2023.
One of the significant challenges Roselyn faced was the desire to shift from traditional engineering as it became mundane. She explored Cloud Architecture and GRC but faced difficulties setting up her AWS Free Tier account, which slowed her cloud journey. Eventually, she resolved to delve into GRC and landed her current job, applying her engineering knowledge from an information security perspective.
Oyindamola Dawodu – Software Engineer
Oyindamola’s journey into engineering began during her college years as a mechanical engineer, where she mastered the basics of machine engineering and worked with software tools like Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, and Revit. She even used Python for her final project. Her transition into software engineering in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, was unexpected but transformative.
Currently, Oyindamola thrives as a software engineer, building solutions that solve business problems and enhance user experiences. She particularly enjoys working on frontend architecture and user interfaces, finding great satisfaction in seeing her code come to life as interactive, user-friendly applications. Recently, she optimized a payment platform, improving efficiency through memoization and caching, and successfully implemented a user interaction tracking system to enhance user engagement analytics.
Engineering has significantly enhanced Oyindamola’s life, influencing even her daily routines. From meal prepping to outfit choices, she applies a systematic approach to everything. The flexibility of her career allows her to work remotely, collaborating with global teams to bring innovative products to life. She approaches challenges with a solutions mindset, believing that every problem has multiple solutions waiting to be discovered.
Her advice to aspiring female engineers is to prioritize quality over meeting deadlines. “Remember, you’re on a very delicate path where every decision needs to be carefully considered. If you ever find yourself stuck between meeting a deadline and compromising on quality, always prioritize quality. It’s the foundation that will sustain the business in the long run.” She also emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey and cherishing moments with loved ones.
Curiosity was the spark that ignited Oyindamola’s passion for engineering. Fascinated by how massive trains stay on tiny rails, she pursued a career to understand the mechanics behind such phenomena. Her unplanned shift to software engineering came when her employer challenged her to learn web development during the pandemic. Despite not meeting the initial one-month deadline, her persistence paid off, leading her to discover a world of opportunities in software engineering.
One of Oyindamola’s early achievements was leading her team to victory in a hackathon. She also made significant contributions to open-source projects during Hacktoberfest 2022, particularly the Chimoney Project, which led to her becoming a Chi-Squad member and Ambassador for Chimoney in 2023.
Overcoming challenges has been a crucial part of her journey. Battling imposter syndrome and transitioning from basic coding to engineering robust software architectures were significant hurdles. She overcame imposter syndrome by understanding that job descriptions are ideal wish lists, encouraging her to apply boldly for roles. Learning to design scalable software architectures helped her evolve from a coder to an engineer.
Excited about sharing her journey, Oyindamola is launching a LinkedIn video series titled “From Developer to Engineer.” This series will guide self-taught developers on their path to becoming proficient software engineers. She invites you to join her on LinkedIn and embark on this transformative journey together.
Ekaette Essien – Software Engineering Intern
Ekaette Essien is currently working towards her Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer (AZ-500) certification, marking a significant step in her journey toward becoming a skilled cybersecurity professional.
Engineering has profoundly shaped Ekaette’s life, revealing her tenacity and adaptability. During the first weeks at ALX, she felt completely lost and even considered quitting the program due to the steep learning curve. However, she persevered, discovering that she could learn almost anything if she applied herself. This realization has been the most liberating reward of her career.
Her advice to other women pursuing engineering is to “find your tribe.” She emphasizes the importance of joining communities of like-minded professionals, especially those tailored for women, as it makes it easier to find others who can relate to your challenges and offer support.
Ekaette’s journey into engineering was driven by equal parts curiosity and a desire to automate data entry at her previous job. This led her to take the leap and learn web development with ALX, with the initial goal of building a website for her company. Through this experience, she joined CyberGirls and found her true passion in cybersecurity. She now plans to continue honing her skills until she becomes a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).
Among her significant achievements, Ekaette graduated from both the CyberGirls and ALX fellowships and secured an internship at Microsoft. These milestones mark her dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the tech industry.
However, Ekaette’s journey has not been without challenges. Breaking into her first tech role, especially from an unconventional background, was a major hurdle. She resolved not to give up, continually learning and applying her skills until she got her big break.
Ekaette’s story is a testament to resilience and the power of community. Her journey underscores the importance of perseverance, continuous learning, and the support of a like-minded community in achieving one’s career goals.
Success Ogechi Ezeh – Software (Backend) Developer
Success Ogechi Ezeh is currently working with Bizpend, a company that offers a comprehensive people and financial management application for businesses. Her role involves providing endpoints in the API for the application and integrating third-party APIs, ensuring seamless functionality and user experience.
Engineering has been a transformative journey for Success, offering continuous learning opportunities and helping her attain financial stability. It has also been instrumental in developing her leadership skills and becoming more outspoken. Working in a male-dominated industry, she had to work hard to be valuable and heard, building grit, resilience, and a strong will along the way.
Her advice to other women pursuing engineering is to recognize the great opportunities the field offers for financial freedom and societal impact. “You have to come ready to work hard, face daily challenges, beat down voices that say you are not good enough, and be willing to make daily progress. Myself and every woman in engineering are looking forward to having you join us and advance the world of engineering.”
Success’s inspiration for pursuing a career in engineering began with her fascination with physics and mathematics during her senior secondary education. She was intrigued by how science provided answers to many mysteries she encountered growing up. Her interest deepened after reading the book of Nehemiah and relating it to Nigeria’s situation, which motivated her to study chemical engineering to contribute to the country’s industrialization.
Despite the opportunity leading her to software development, Success remains passionate about combining her skills in engineering and software to build solutions for plant design, process and operations simulation, and automation in the future.
Among her significant achievements, Success graduated with a second-class upper degree in Chemical Engineering from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, learned a computer programming language, and gained her first internship role within nine months. With over three years of experience in tech, she currently excels as an intermediate backend developer.
However, Success’s journey has not been without challenges. One of the major hurdles she faced was bridging the knowledge gap when she entered the tech industry. The steep learning curve was daunting, especially when preparing for technical interviews or learning new concepts to complete tasks. She overcame these challenges by working harder, dedicating extra time to learning, building projects, and actively participating in community group studies. This challenge remains, but she embraces the mantra “progress over perfection” and continues to improve her skills daily.
For more on Success’s work, you can find links to her live projects, articles, and portfolio on her GitHub profile.
Ogochukwu Ekwueme – Data Engineer
Ogochukwu Ekwueme’s work revolves around transforming raw data into actionable insights. She cleans, stores, manages, and makes data practical and useful, helping organizations leverage their data to drive decisions and efficiencies.
Engineering has had a profound impact on Ogochukwu’s life and career. Although her university studies in engineering aren’t directly related to her current career path, they taught her a valuable life lesson: the ability to persevere through tough situations and figure out solutions. This resilience has been instrumental in her career progression.
Her advice to other women pursuing engineering is simple yet powerful: “Go for it! Fail fast and fail forward.” She encourages embracing failure as a stepping stone to success, underscoring the importance of learning and moving forward.
Ogochukwu’s journey into engineering was somewhat serendipitous, driven by trial and error. Reflecting on her path, she humorously notes that it might still be a bit of trial and error, but this approach has led her to significant achievements.
One of her notable accomplishments includes employing optimization techniques that reduced her organization’s costs by almost 30%. This achievement highlights her ability to make a substantial impact through innovative solutions.
However, Ogochukwu has faced challenges, particularly the need to constantly innovate in an industry that rapidly evolves. Initially, she struggled with adapting to change, as she tends not to welcome it easily. Nonetheless, she recognizes the necessity of quick adaptation in a field brimming with new tools and ever-changing industry standards. She candidly admits that adapting to change is an ongoing struggle, but her willingness to embrace this challenge demonstrates her commitment to continuous improvement.
Ogochukwu’s story is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of embracing both successes and failures. Her journey encourages aspiring engineers to dive in, learn from their experiences, and keep moving forward.
The stories shared highlight the incredible contributions of women in engineering within the Wetech community. These remarkable women show how engineering transforms lives, drives innovation, and solves complex problems. Celebrating their achievements underscores the importance of increasing female representation to foster diverse perspectives and solutions.
We encourage you to connect with these inspiring women and support their ongoing projects. By following their work and engaging with their initiatives, you can help amplify their impact and contribute to a more inclusive and innovative engineering community.
What’s Next?
We invite you to share this blog post with other women who are interested in venturing into the engineering field and let us know in the comments section if this was helpful.
Additionally, take a moment to support our cause by making a donation today. Your generous contributions will help us advance our mission to promote diversity and empower women in the tech industry. Together, we can make a significant difference. Contribute here.
