By Frank Kwame Abbor, GNA
Ho, Oct. 3, GNA – Professor Ben Q. Honyenuga, the Vice-Chancellor of the Technical University (HTU), has urged women engineers to focus on innovation, integrity and practical solutions, to advance Ghana’s sustainable development.
He said women in engineering had the capacity, creativity and determination to address national challenges and contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.
Prof. Honyenuga made the call as Guest Speaker at the fifth edition of WinEAffair, organised by Women in Engineering Ghana (WinE Ghana) at the G.M. Afeti Auditorium of HTU.
The event was held on the theme: “Engineering a Sustainable Future: Women Leading the Way.”
He said HTU was pleased to host the programme because it aligned with the university’s vision of encouraging more girls to pursue engineering education and careers.
He challenged the participants not to remain idle or focus solely on professional titles, but to identify opportunities to make meaningful contributions to society.
He said Ghana needed engineers, particularly women, who could translate their knowledge and skills into solutions that responded to the country’s development needs.
Prof. Honyenuga said sustainable engineering went beyond designing products, buildings, machines and technologies to include developing affordable, appropriate and community-centred solutions.
He noted that engineering decisions had social consequences and that technically successful projects could still harm communities when they ignored consultation, accessibility, inequality or local realities.
Sustainable engineering must therefore be ethical, inclusive and people-centred, creating jobs, protecting the environment, strengthening local capacity and expanding opportunities, he said.
The Vice-Chancellor described women engineers as vital contributors to national development through their knowledge, creativity, collaboration and understanding of social impact.
Addressing young women pursuing engineering, he acknowledged the barriers they might encounter, including stereotypes, unequal opportunities, limited resources and pressure to prove themselves.
He encouraged them not to allow such experiences to define their abilities or limit their ambitions, but to continue learning, asking questions, building confidence and supporting one another.
He also urged them to cultivate professional relationships, noting that the networks they built during their training could influence their future careers and opportunities.
Prof. Honyenuga said leadership should begin with integrity, courage and a willingness to take responsibility rather than professional titles.
He called on women to participate actively in designing, constructing, programming, managing, researching, teaching, regulating, investing and innovating, saying their ideas, work and leadership were needed for Ghana’s future.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo