The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT) have awarded N229 million in grant funding to 14 female engineers in Nigeria.
The grants were presented to the awardees of the Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her (DELT-Her 2.0) initiative at a ceremony in Abuja, aimed at boosting gender inclusion and technological innovation across critical sectors.
Focus on Strategy, Not Charity
Khalil Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of NASENI, stated that DELT-Her provides a vital platform for women to convert engineering ideas into solutions that can change the world.
He emphasised that the agency views gender inclusion not as charity, but as a strategy, noting that every woman empowered through the initiative represents new capacity for the nation’s technology and manufacturing ecosystem.
The 14 successful candidates were selected from a massive pool of 9,925 project proposals. Their innovative projects span areas including clean energy, agriculture, health, mobility, and digital security.
Exponential Growth and Mentorship
The initiative has seen exponential growth since its pilot phase. The first edition of DELT-Her in 2024 supported six engineers with N70.5 million and received only 120 applications. This year’s 2.0 edition attracted nearly 10,000 proposals.
The programme has also scaled its mentorship efforts, reaching over 150 school girls across several Nigerian states in 2025, providing them with training, bootcamps, and fabrication kits.
Dr. Mohammed Dahiru, Chairman of PICTT, commended the resilience and ingenuity of the awardees, urging stakeholders to sustain the momentum to ensure the initiative continues to bridge gaps and drive national development.
Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, representing the Senate President, reiterated the National Assembly’s support, stating that “a nation that builds its technology builds its destiny and a nation that empowers its women secures its future.”
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