President of the Federation of African Organizations (FAEO), Ing. Carlien Bou-Chedid, has called for all barriers impeding females from venturing professions in engineering to be dismantled.

According to her; “when it comes to female engineering practitioners, they find themselves three times disadvantaged. In addition to doing a job that is not fully appreciated, they face the same difficulties and impediments that other females face as well as further difficulties associated with being in a largely male dominated profession”.

“And yet, engineering is so critical to Africa’s development that we need to ensure the participation of much larger numbers in the profession and these must include equal numbers of females”.

“Water, electricity, communication, agriculture, health and practically all fields, benefit from engineering inputs and in order to obtain the best solutions, the engineering workforce that provides the solutions must be reflective of the society they serve”, she emphasized.

In a public statement to mark International Women’s Day, the FAEO President urged all sectors of society to create a conducive environment to encourage women and girls not just explore fields in engineering but also retain their roles as engineers.

“The barriers to females entering the profession as well as those that prevent them from being retained need to be removed and this will require a concerted effort by all sections of society. Parents, family members, teachers, educational institutions, workplaces and governments all have a role to play. We must work to reform our educational systems to serve our goals,” she stated.

International Women's Day presents the global opportunity to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, the world over.

Marked annually, on March 8, the International Women's Day (IWD) is one of the most important events on the United Nations’ calendar, which makes it possible to raise awareness on women's equality, achievements, and challenges, as well as lobby for accelerated gender parity.

 The Day, sanctioned by the United Nations (UN) in 1975, when it officially celebrated it, inspires support for organizations that help women, globally, and creates the opportunity to fundraise for female-focused charities.

 The 2021 theme for the IWD, announced by the UN Women, is:  “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World”, which celebrates efforts by women and girls in creating a more equal future and COVID-19 pandemic recovery.