The National Science Engineering Initiative (NASENI) has reiterated its commitment to bridging the gender gap in engineering through its DELT-Her initiative. 

At the DELT-Her 2.0 call for proposals in Abuja, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Halilu, reiterated the agency’s dedication to empowering women in the field.

“Our goal is to double the number of female engineers in Nigeria within five years. Advancing gender balance and building a stronger and more inclusive technology sector,” Halilu said.

The EVC went on to highlight the gender imbalance in Nigeria’s engineering workforce, which is five per cent women vs. 28 per cent globally, and framed it as an opportunity to empower women.

He said DELT-Her aims to promote women in STEM, ensuring they are at the forefront of innovation.

The Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT), Dr. Mohammed Dahiru also stated that this initiative is designed to nurture talent and create and ecosystem that will ensure that women excel in the field of engineering.

The representative of the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim also emphasised women’s crucial role in Nigeria’s technology future, describing DELT-Her as “a strategic leverage for national transformation through inclusive innovation.”

In its first phase last year, DELT-Her successfully disbursed N70.5 million to six outstanding female engineers who developed pioneering solutions, including AI-powered soil monitoring, drone surveillance systems and sustainable automotive brake pads.

DELT-Her project lead, Olamide Apejoye told the press: “After a successful first phase, we can’t wait to see all the exciting things we’re able to achieve with our participants this year”

The DELT-Her 2.0 proposal portal is live now and will remain open until July 31, 2025. The initiative continues to unlock new pathways for Nigerian women in engineering to build, lead and scale transformative tech solutions.