The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has announced its commitment to doubling the number of female engineers in Nigeria over the next five years. This pledge was made by Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, during the official launch of the “Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her” (DELT-Her) initiative at the NASENI Headquarters in Abuja. The event coincided with the global commemoration of International Women’s Day.
DELT-Her, a subset of the Delta-2 program, aims to address the gender gap in engineering practice by inspiring the next generation of female engineers, providing financial support for their projects, and strengthening the overall engineering ecosystem in Nigeria. Mr. Halilu described DELT-Her as an “opportunity platform” where girls and young women can present their engineering ideas for funding by NASENI, in collaboration with the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT).
Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Mr. Halilu emphasized the need to correct the imbalance in the engineering profession and create awareness about the significance of training and mentoring more women in engineering. Currently, women make up only five percent of engineers in Nigeria, compared to the global average of 28 percent.
Dr. Mohammed Dahiru, Chairman of PICTT, expressed the committee’s commitment to funding innovative proposals by women in engineering and technology. He announced the launch of a call for proposals from young women, marking the beginning of efforts to establish engineering start-up companies led by women.
Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), praised the DELT-Her initiative for addressing the challenges faced by female engineers and unlocking their full potential in the field. The event also received support from Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi and other dignitaries, including Rinsola Abiola and Engr. Mrs. Katume Giwa.
Students from Government Secondary School, Dasara, Kuje, Abuja, were also present at the event, indicating the importance of inspiring and involving young women in engineering from an early age.