NASENI, PICTT award N229m grants to 14 Female Engineers

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), in collaboration with the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT), has awarded N229 million to 14 beneficiaries under the Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her (DELT-Her 2.0) initiative. A statement by the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the programme was designed […]

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), in collaboration with the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT), has awarded N229 million to 14 beneficiaries under the Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her (DELT-Her 2.0) initiative.

A statement by the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the programme was designed to help women transform bold engineering ideas into real-world solutions. “DELT-Her represents an opportunity platform through which women can turn bold engineering ideas into solutions that change the world,” he said.

Halilu noted in the statement that 14 women emerged from 9,925 project proposals, securing funding to advance innovations in agriculture, clean energy, health, mobility, digital security and environmental sustainability.

He added that the Agency views gender inclusion as a strategy for national development.

“Every woman empowered through DELT-Her represents new capacity for the nation’s technology and manufacturing ecosystem with a unique perspective that drives better designs, smarter products and more human-centred innovation,” he said.

Halilu recalled in the statement that the first edition in 2024 supported six female engineers with N70.5 million, adding that this year’s edition showed exponential growth in participation. “This year, DELT-Her 2.0 attracted 9,925 project proposals, compared to just 120 applications in the previous year,” he said.

He also disclosed that the programme expanded its mentorship reach.

“From mentoring 30 school girls in the FCT in 2024, the programme scaled in 2025 to reach over 150 girls across Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Nasarawa and the FCT, providing mentorship, bootcamps and fabrication kits that have inspired them to develop their own prototypes,” Halilu added.

In his remarks, the statement noted that the Chairman of PICTT, Dr Mohammed Dahiru, praised the awardees for demonstrating resilience and innovation.

“Their dedication, ingenuity and resilience exemplify the potential of women in STEM. As we honour these milestones, let us recommit to sustaining this momentum, ensuring that DELT-Her continues to bridge gaps and drive national development,” he said.

Representing the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NASENI, Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s support for NASENI’s mandate. “We believe that a nation that builds its technology builds its destiny and a nation that empowers its women secures its future,” he said.

The Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Udoka, also commended NASENI and PICTT, saying their interventions aligned with the Federal Government’s push for technological independence and gender inclusion. She said their work “aligns meaningfully with the Federal Government’s broader commitment to promoting technological independence, industrial growth, gender inclusion and national competitiveness.”

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Postmaster-General of NIPOST, Engr Tola Odeyemi; Executive Director of NEXIM Bank, Hon. Stella Okotete; Presidential aide on ICT, Fawaz Amodu; and representatives of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Minister of State for FCT, PenCom, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the National Identity Management Commission.