APWEN gives reason for infrastructure failure

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria has said that lack of sustainable engineering design of public facilities is having a negative effect on infrastructure development in the country.

APWEN stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of its conference held in Ilesha, Osun State, with the theme: ‘Engineering solutions for sustainable infrastructure development’.

According to the communiqué signed by the association’s President, Mrs. Nnoli Akpedeye, and Chairperson, Conference Planning Committee, Dr. Christy Ijagbemi, there is a need to harvest new technologies for sustainable infrastructure development.

The communiqué read in part, “There is a need for sustainable design of infrastructure. The ASPiRE software is recommended for sustainability evaluation of infrastructure at every stage of project design, delivery and maintenance.

“The government is encouraged to embrace the design for projects’ viability and sustainability. Government should also put in place a structure to encourage entrepreneurial skills by sponsoring need-driven ideas towards national growth.”

The association also called on governments at all levels to explore the idea of electronic governance.

“E-governance is to be further encouraged for projects’ sustainability. The Federal Government is enjoined to provide grants for research in developing ICT structures towards the technological development of the nation,” it added.

On power generation, APWEN stated that the country had yet to adequately explore its abundant renewable energy resources for economic development and urged the government to address the issues of energy security.

The association further stated that it was making substantial efforts in enhancing professional development of female engineers and encouraging young girls to pick careers in the profession through a mentor-mentee programme