L- R: Coordinating Director, Planning and Business Development NASENI, Mrs. Nonyem Onyechi; Chairman Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer, Dr. Mohammed Dahiru; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mrs. Nko Esuabana; President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mrs. Margaret Aina Oguntala; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu and Chairman, Senate Committee on NASENI, Sen. Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi during the launch of the DELT-Her programme in commemoration of the International Women’s Day at NASENI HQs Abuja on Friday, 8th March, 2024
Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), announced at NASENI Headquarters, Abuja, during the official launch of “Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her” (DELT-Her), that the Agency aims to double the number of female Engineers in Nigeria within the next five years.
DELT-Her, an initiative introduced as part of the Delta-2 program, seeks to address the gender gap in engineering practice in Nigeria. Mr. Halilu outlined its objectives, which include inspiring the next generation of female engineers, offering financial support for new ideas and projects, transforming them into viable businesses, and ultimately bolstering the entire engineering ecosystem. This event coincided with the global celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD).
Mr. Halilu said, “DELT-Her is what I call an opportunity platform”, through which girls and young women can pitch and present their exciting and groundbreaking engineering ideas, for funding by NASENI, through our collaboration with the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT).
In further elaboration on the project, Mr. Halilu emphasized that DELT-Her aims to rectify the imbalance in both practice and enterprise development. It concentrates on directing attention and funding toward young women while also emphasizing the importance of creating public awareness regarding the necessity of training and mentoring more women for engineering professions.
He highlighted that ideally, women should constitute half of all professional spaces in the country; however, the current reality falls far short of this goal. Globally, the average female representation in engineering stands at 28 percent, whereas in Nigeria, it is merely five percent, indicating that only one in 20 Nigerian engineers is a woman. Recognizing the significance of awareness, the initiative plans to address this issue seriously by engaging with schools and implementing storytelling campaigns.
L to R: Coordinating Director, Planning and Business Development, NASENI, Mrs. Nonyem Onyechi; Chairman Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer, Dr. Mohammed Dahiru; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mrs Nko Esuabana; President Nigeria Society of Engineers NSE, Mrs. Margaret Aina Oguntala; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu; Chairman, Senate Committee on NASENI, Sen. Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi and students of Government Secondary School, Dasara, Kuje, Abuja during the launch of the DELT-Her programme in commemoration of the International Women’s Day at NASENI HQ Abuja on Friday, 8th March, 2024
“We intend to, through DELT-HER, double the number of female engineers in Nigeria over the next five years. This will mean working extensively at the level of secondary education, which is where young girls make the vital decisions regarding choice of professional field”, he said.
“The Committee, through continuous support of NASENI is determined to fund innovative and commercially viable ideas in engineering and technology-oriented proposals by women. Therefore, today’s launch of call for proposals from young women marks the beginning of a chain of events which are expected to lead to engineering start-up companies owned and run by women,” Chairman, PICTT, Dr. Mohammed Dahiru stated in his welcome address.
During her keynote address, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), emphasized that the DELT-HER initiative aims to tackle the challenges faced by women in engineering practice and unleash their full potential in the field.
The event also featured goodwill messages from various dignitaries, including Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NASENI, who pledged his support for women in the engineering and science sectors to ensure their rightful place in society.
Additionally, goodwill messages were delivered by Rinsola Abiola, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Citizenship and Leadership, and Engr. Mrs. Katume Giwa, the Chairman of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN). The event was attended by students from Government Secondary School, Dasara, Kuje, Abuja.
