Ing. Mrs. Carlien Bou-Chedid, a female Ghanaian Engineer, has been sworn-in as the President of the Federation of African Engineering Organization (FAEO).

The impressive FAEO 5th Presidential Investiture ceremony was hosted by the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), whose Immediate Past President, Ing. Mrs. Carlien Bou-Chedid, was elected as the President for the organization.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the investiture was done via zoom meeting platform, where sizeable number of Engineers around the continent, joined in to crown Ing. Mrs. Carlien Bou-Chedid as the 5th President of Africa Engineers.

Among the top Engineers who participated in the investiture included Executive Vice President of the World Federation of Engineers, Engr. M. B. Shehu; Immediate Past President of FAEO, Eng. Martin Manuhwa; Past Presidents of FAEO, Executive Board Members and Regional heads of FAEO, Representatives of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations, AU, UNESCO, FEIAP and Women in Engineering (WiNE) of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations, Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of Professional Engineering Institutions and Engineering Organizations as well as the President of GhIE, Ing. Alexander Leslie Ayeh; Executive Director of GhIE, Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong and members of Ghana Institution of Engineering.

Handing over the mantle of leadership to Ing. Mrs. Carlien Bou-Chedid, the Immediate Past President of FAEO, Eng. Martin Manuhwa expressed delight that his successor is the first ever female President of FAEO.

He assured the new President of his full support in carrying her mandate to the federation.

In her acceptance speech, the 5th President of FAEO, Ing. Mrs. Carlien Bou-Chedid said, “I appreciate the honour done to me, to Ghanaian Engineering and to Women in Africa and around the world by placing me in this position. I am fortunate to have been surrounded throughout of my life by many distinguished engineers who by their example prepared the grounds for me to occupy this lofty position”.

She paid a glowing tribute to the 50 engineers that held the position of President of the Ghana Institution of Engineers besides her, including her own father, the late Past President. Ing. EYS Engmann.

To the FAEO Past Presidents, Ing. President Carlien Bou-Chedid said: “I would like to recognize also, my predecessor Presidents in FAEO, who through their dedication, hard work and actions, have within a short space of time brought FAEO to its current position of recognition.

"From its inception in 2012, President Martin Van Veelan of South Africa, helped to nurture a fledgling organization which had very few resources. President, Mustapha Shehu of Nigeria pursued International recognition for the organization and succeeded in developing a partnership with the AU as outlined in an MOU”.

She continued that under FAEO President Julius Riungu of Kenya, fundraising efforts paid off and FAEO began strengthening its Secretariat and governance structures.

Finally, she showed a special appreciation to Immediate Past President of FAEO, Eng. President Martin Manuwha, saying, “the gentleman who has just handed over the running of FAEO to me, aside from continuing the work began by his predecessors, strategically developed partnerships with many international organisations, all designed to help FAEO achieve its objectives.

In addition, he ensured that all five regions of FAEO became active and are now united by the common aim of helping to engineer Africa’s development.