UNIDEL Vice-Chancellor Prof. Stella Chiemeke Honoured with Leadership Award, Urges Women to Break Barriers

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Delta, Agbor (UNIDEL), Prof Stella Chiemeke has said that women must continue to break barriers and inspire the next generation.

Prof. Stella Chiemeke made the remark at Asaba, Delta State, during the inauguration of the Engr. Dr. Stella Emecheta led Executive Council of the Association of Professional Women Engineers APWEN, Asaba Chapter /Public Lecture in commemoration of the 2026 World Women's Day on March 21st 2026.

Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Patrick Ijeh, Prof. Chiemeke said "Women must continue to break barriers, inspire the next generation, and actively contribute to shaping a more inclusive and innovative engineering landscape in Nigeria"

Prof. Chiemeke, who was bestowed with the outstanding leadership award because of her "Commitment to advancing inclusion, strengthening mentorship, expanding leadership opportunities, and empowering female professionals to excel and emerge as confident future leaders", at the occasion, thanked the new Chairman, Engr. Dr. Stella Emecheta, and the entire APWEN Asaba Chapter leadership for the recognition accorded her, saying the award was not just a personal achievement, but a celebration of the collective progress of women in engineering and leadership

Delivering a keynote on the theme “She Engineer: A Catalyst of Change – Empowering Women to Define Nigeria’s Engineering Future,” the guest speaker, Engr. Dr. Oduware Okosun warned against the continued loss of female talent in the sector.

Nigeria, she stressed, could no longer afford to sideline its women in engineering. She called on female professionals to assert their relevance, overcome structural barriers, and actively mentor younger generations.

“Women must not only participate—they must lead, advocate for recognition, and become catalysts for transformation,” she said.

In her acceptance speech, Engr. Emecheta unveiled an ambitious agenda for her tenure, including scholarships for indigent engineering students, the creation of safe and supportive spaces for female engineers, and the establishment of a permanent APWEN secretariat in Asaba.

Some of the major highlights of the ceremony were the swearing in of the new executive members of APWEN Asaba Branch, and the inauguration of the 2026/2027 UNIDEL Collegiate Chapter of APWEN, signalling a renewed push to groom the next generation of female engineers.

The occasion was witnessed by the Honourable Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerovwo Johnbull Tonukari, HRM Agbogidi Obi Engr. Nduka Ezeagwuna, the Obi of Issele - Uku, members of Nigerian Society of Engineers, while UNIDEL entourage included the following: Dr. Sunny Ikeogwu, Bursar, Prof. Mrs. Rosemary Ngozi Okoh, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr. Ejaita Abugor Okpako Ag Dean, Faculty of Computing.