APM Terminals Apapa has launched a Female Mechanic Technical Skills Programme designed to empower young women with mechanical and technical expertise, challenging long-standing gender stereotypes in Nigeria’s ports and logistics industry.
The initiative, part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, will equip 20 young women with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in areas such as forklift and crane maintenance, automobile mechanics, and electrical works.
Speaking at the launch, Terminal Manager Steen Knudsen explained that the programme is a deliberate move to break gender barriers in the maritime and logistics sector.
“We want to see more women pursuing careers in technical and operational roles. This programme will give them the courage, resilience, and skills to succeed in a space that has for too long been seen as male-dominated,” he said.
The six-month training blends classroom instruction with hands-on workshops. Each participant will receive protective gear and a stipend to support them during the programme, ensuring that financial constraints do not stand in the way of learning.
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Beyond Mechanics: Building Confidence and Futures
APM Terminals is working with Engineer Sandra Aguebor, Nigeria’s first female mechanic and founder of the Lady Mechanic Initiative, to deliver the programme. Aguebor applauded the effort, noting that women are ready to play an even greater role in shaping Nigeria’s industrial future.
“This isn’t just about fixing cars or maintaining cranes,” she explained. “It’s about giving young women alternatives, giving them the tools to say no to societal pressures, and the confidence to build successful careers.”
For many participants, this is more than training—it’s a lifeline. By acquiring practical technical skills, they will have access to employment opportunities, apprenticeships, or even the chance to establish their own businesses in the future.
Tackling Skills Gap and Gender Inequality
Nigeria’s logistics and maritime industry continues to expand, but like many sectors, it struggles with both a skills gap and a lack of female participation. This programme directly addresses both challenges.
By investing in young women, APM Terminals is not only contributing to workforce diversity but also ensuring that more Nigerians are trained to meet the technical demands of tomorrow’s economy.
If successful, the Female Mechanic Technical Skills Programme could be scaled up to include more women or replicated in other regions of Nigeria. For the 20 pioneers starting this journey, it marks the beginning of new opportunities—and a powerful statement that gender should never limit potential.
