L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Maryam Chira Keshinro; Chairman, Senate Committee on NASENI, Sen. Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi; EVC/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu; Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, FCTA, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins- Laniyi; Chairman of Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer, Dr. Mohammed Dahiru; and Executive Director, North and Public Sector, Fidelity Bank, Mr. Sufiyani Garba at the launch of DELT-Her proposal portal for female engineers at NASENI Headquarters, Abuja on Monday May 19, 2025.
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has reinforced its commitment to empowering women in engineering by unveiling the second phase of its Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her (DELT-Her) initiative.
The launch event, held on Monday, May 19, 2025, at NASENI’s headquarters in Abuja, marked a major milestone in the Federal Government’s strategy to promote gender inclusion in science and engineering. Speaking at the event, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, announced the bold target to double the number of female engineers in Nigeria within the next five years.
According to Mr. Halilu, the DELT-Her program is not just about grants—it’s about leadership, innovation, and national impact. “DELT-Her is igniting a new generation of women-led innovation to tackle Nigeria’s biggest challenges,” he said. He noted that during the first phase in 2024, six female engineers were awarded a total of N70.5 million to scale projects ranging from AI-powered soil sensors to eco-friendly vehicle components and drone security systems.
The second phase will offer even more support, thanks to partnerships with the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT) and the Czech Republic’s Technology Agency. Mr. Halilu emphasized that DELT-Her will continue to offer funding, expert mentorship, and global exposure to help female engineers lead transformative change.
PICTT Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Dahiru, called DELT-Her a “flagship effort to break gender barriers and redefine Nigeria’s technological future.” He pointed out that while women make up just 5% of engineers in Nigeria—compared to 28% globally—initiatives like DELT-Her are key to closing that gap.
Dr. Dahiru added that the program offers more than funding; it connects female engineers to seasoned professionals who can help them bring their ideas to life as viable, scalable startups.
In her remarks, Mrs. Maryam Chira Keshinro, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (representing the Minister), described DELT-Her as a strategic tool for national development and inclusive innovation. She stressed that it directly addresses structural inequalities by increasing access to capital, skills, and mentorship for women in STEM.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on NASENI, Sen. Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi, pledged the Senate’s ongoing support for policies and funding that empower women engineers.
Also speaking at the event, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntola—represented by Engr. Mistura Adenike Rafiu—voiced the NSE’s full backing for NASENI’s initiative.
Additional endorsements came from Mrs. Rinsola Abiola, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizens and Leadership, and Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Women Affairs Secretariat. Both praised the DELT-Her program and encouraged more women to take bold steps in the engineering field.
The DELT-Her portal officially opened for applications on May 19 and will close on July 31, 2025. Interested applicants can visit www.delther.pictt.gov.ng to apply.
DELT-Her is building a future where Nigerian women not only enter the engineering space—but lead it.
