The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has emphasised the urgency for women engineers to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into practice, promote innovation, business growth, and financial independence.

APWEN also reiterated its commitment to empowering engineers with 21st-century skills to ensure relevance and resilience in a rapidly evolving and uncertain global economy.

The association’s President, Dr Adebisi Osim, led the charge at a webinar entitled: “AI-Powered Wealth Creation and Business Mastery for Engineers”. The virtual session, which was anchored by the Founder of the AI Mastery Academy, Mr Gabriel Nmadu, attracted a diverse audience of engineering professionals, entrepreneurs, and tech-enthusiasts from across Nigeria and beyond.

Osim, who doubles as a civil engineer, pointed out that as the world is evolving rapidly, so is the engineering profession, hence AI is no longer a concept of the future but a present reality, adding that those who harness its power will be the trailblazers of innovation, business, and financial prosperity.

“As engineers, we stand at the forefront of innovation and problem-solving. We design, build, and maintain the fabric of our modern world. But the world, as we know, is constantly evolving, and the engineering profession is evolving right along with it. One of the most powerful catalysts for this change is AI. As forward-thinking women engineers, it is not just beneficial, but essential that we understand and leverage this powerful tool,” Osim said.

She disclosed that the group has also advocated for the integration of AI in addressing national challenges, such as leveraging AI to solve Nigeria’s electricity problems, adding that: “We need to learn how to work smarter, not just harder, by integrating AI into our strategies.”

On his part, Mr Nmadu described AI as a strategic tool that amplifies engineers’ capabilities, enabling them to engage in tasks such as predictive maintenance, automated design, project management, and client proposal development.

He highlighted real-world applications, demonstrating how AI can revolutionise problem-solving, sustainability initiatives, and global communication, particularly through tools like language translation and knowledge sharing.

Nmadu, who used practical examples from engineering and accounting, showcased how AI can be leveraged to conceptualise digital products, develop marketing strategies, and create multiple streams of income.
Participants also learnt how engineers could transform their knowledge into monetisable assets, build consulting firms, and create AI-driven solutions for societal benefit.

According to him, AI tools can be used to craft a personalised financial plan for individuals earning modest monthly incomes, with the plan comprising budgeting techniques, investment suggestions, and strategies for financial agility, underscoring the role of AI in not just professional, but also personal wealth creation.