Roseline Cletus Igah Bags APWEN Presidential Merit Award for Selfless Service to the Association.

Roseline Cletus Igah, a distinguished advocate for female engineers, has been honored with the APWEN Presidential Merit Award in recognition of her unwavering commitment and selfless service to the Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN).

Since becoming APWEN’s International Representative in 2012, Roseline has been instrumental in creating invaluable career opportunities for female engineers through international networking, exposure, and conference presentations. She has gone above and beyond, facilitating visa interviews and managing all logistical arrangements for several female engineers, ensuring they could attend the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) conference yearly. Her meticulous planning included securing hotel accommodations, airport pickups, flight bookings, conference memberships, and renewals, enabling these women to gain international exposure and enhance their careers.

In addition to her role as International Representative, Roseline has been a driving force behind several APWEN initiatives. Notably, she was part of the team that launched the first edition of the “Introduce a Girl to Engineering” event in Nigeria. This groundbreaking science competition, which involved 22 high schools in Lagos, saw girls aged 12 to 14 working in teams to construct load-carrying bridges from straws and duct tape. Roseline taught these young girls project management skills, helping all 22 teams successfully complete their tasks. By the end of the event, over 70% of the girls expressed a newfound passion for engineering.

Roseline’s impact also extends to the realm of internet etiquette. Recognizing the growing importance of digital communication in the early 2000s, she became a sought-after speaker on “Etiquette and Netiquette.” Her presentations, which she delivered at multiple APWEN events, significantly improved the discipline and structure of members’ internet usage and written communication through IT-driven messaging platforms.

Her dedication to empowering women engineers also took her to the international stage, where she presented the paper “The Female Professional and her Etiquette” at the 2014 International Conference for Women Engineers and Scientists (ICWES) and Women Engineers (WE) conference in Los Angeles. At the same event, Roseline co-hosted an over-subscribed panel discussion titled “Surviving Office Politics – A Nigerian Perspective,” which inspired three young girls to seek her mentorship on the spot.

The Presidential Merit Award was presented to Roseline by the 14th President of APWEN, Engr. Hauwa Sadique, MNSE. She made the following remark: “The Presidential Merit Award is a well-deserved recognition of Roseline’s tireless work in advancing the cause of women engineers, both in Nigeria and globally. Her commitment continues to inspire, shape, and elevate the careers of countless women in engineering.” This prestigious accolade is a testament to Roseline’s unwavering dedication to empowering women engineers and her invaluable contributions to the field.