APWEN Urged to Support Coastal Innovation Initiatives

Achenyo Idachaba Obaro, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mitimeth, called for support from the Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN) for coastal innovation during her address at the 2026 Olutumbi Maduka Annual Lecture in Lagos. The theme of the 7th edition of the lecture was "Waste to Wealth: Revolutionizing Women-led Enterprises in Africa." Obaro highlighted the critical role of women engineers in transforming environmental challenges into scalable enterprises through technological innovation.

She cited examples from Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria, where entrepreneurs have successfully converted waste into valuable products. Obaro specifically mentioned Mitimeth's initiative to convert invasive water hyacinth into furniture and home décor.

She urged APWEN members to support innovative machinery that adapts biomaterials for scalable product systems, emphasizing the need for mentorship to help grassroots ideas become commercially viable solutions. The lecture also celebrated Olutumbi Maduka's contributions to women's advancement in engineering.