Nigerian Women Graduate Engineering Program, Land Jobs

When Margaret Jiji Seignure applied to an engineering program while heavily pregnant, she didn't expect much. Today, she's a graduate of Nigeria's first EngineerHer initiative, celebrating not just her own achievement but what it signals for women across the country.

WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria just graduated its first cohort of female engineers after a year of intensive training, mentorship, and hands-on experience at one of Lagos's busiest port facilities. The program launched in 2025 with eight carefully selected participants eager to break into the maritime industry.

The results speak louder than any mission statement. Two women secured positions and academic scholarships before even finishing the program, landing opportunities with multinational companies. Six completed the full year and graduated on June 30, 2026. Several now hold full-time engineering roles at WACT itself.

Helen Clinton Okpoo, one of the graduates, said the experience transformed how she sees herself professionally. "I can now navigate the engineering profession with greater confidence and competence," she shared, noting the program built foundations that extend far beyond technical skills.

The training wasn't just classroom theory. Participants rotated through actual operational roles, learning from experienced engineers while contributing to real projects. They received structured mentorship designed to build both competence and the confidence to claim their place in spaces where women remain rare.

The Ripple Effect

The program's impact reaches beyond six individual careers. Nigeria's maritime sector, like engineering fields worldwide, has struggled with gender imbalance for decades. Programs like EngineerHer prove that the talent exists; what's often missing is the structured pathway in.

WACT launched its second cohort on July 1, 2026, the day after the first group graduated. That seamless continuation signals commitment beyond a one-time initiative. Each cohort creates a stronger network, more role models, and clearer proof that women belong in these roles.

For Margaret, being welcomed while pregnant sent a powerful message about what inclusion actually looks like. "Being part of a company that actively supports female growth and inclusion is premium," she said.

The graduates now enter the workforce equipped not just with engineering skills but with proof that barriers can fall when organizations invest in breaking them down.