Engr. Dr. Felicia Agubata, a former President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), has been bestowed with the honor of having a London Metropolitan/Piccadilly line station named after her on a special engineering-themed Tube map. The map, initiated by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) and Transport for London (TFL), commemorates engineers from various disciplines and recognises the impact of their global engineering excellence, on the world.
The unveiling of this engineering-inspired Tube map coincided with the National Engineering Day celebrations, held annually on the first Wednesday of November, aimed at spotlighting the profound impact of engineers on society. The map signifies the significance of engineering in shaping the world we live in and recognizes 274 tube and Elizabeth line stations dedicated to noteworthy engineers, both past and present, from around the globe.
Dr. Felicia Nnena Agubata was celebrated with the renaming of Rayners Lane station on the London Metropolitan/Piccadilly line. Her inclusion among other distinguished engineers, including fellow Nigerians Dr. Nelson Ogunshakin, George Imafidion, Ollie Folayan, and David Waboso, reflects her remarkable contributions to the field of engineering.
The initiative to honor engineers in such a unique way emerged from the collaborative efforts of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Transport for London. This visionary map redesign, a brainchild of Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, himself an engineer, seeks to promote diversity and inclusivity in the engineering profession by inspiring individuals from all backgrounds to consider engineering as a rewarding career.
Dr. Hayaatun Sillem CBE, CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering, emphasized the importance of recognizing the work of engineers, often underappreciated, and how this project aims to illuminate the stories of ingenuity, teamwork, and resilience that engineers bring to society.
This ingeniously reimagined Tube map renamed not only the lines but the stations as well. It acknowledges engineers across various fields, including transport, defense, entertainment, computing, and health. For instance, Oxford Circus station was renamed after Harry Beck, the electrical draughtsman responsible for creating the iconic London Underground Tube map, while Shepherd’s Bush was dedicated to Professor Dame Ann Dowling, the first female President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, known for her pioneering noise-reduction research on Concorde. Renamings extended to Dr. Gladys West at Uxbridge, recognized for her work that paved the way for the Global Positioning System, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel at Ealing Common, the most celebrated civil engineer of the nineteenth century.
Warren Street, Ada Lovelace, Regent’s Park, and Abbey Wood were also renamed after influential engineers. One notable station was Nine Elms, dedicated to Eneni Bambara-Abban, a multi-award-winning robotics engineer who is actively involved in promoting engineering to young people.
In response to this prestigious recognition, Dr. Felicia Agubata expressed her gratitude and dedicated the honor to the entire engineering community, emphasizing that engineering is the driving force behind innovations that enhance daily life and contribute to a brighter, more sustainable future. As an electrical and electronics engineer, Dr. Agubata’s illustrious career includes serving in various capacities in the aviation sector and winning several scholarships and awards for her outstanding contributions to the field.
Dr. Agubata has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives aimed at promoting STEM education and mentorship, particularly among young women. Her work with APWEN, including the “Invent it Build it” initiative, has had a significant impact on shaping the future of engineering and inspiring a new generation of engineers, particularly women.
