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The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), through the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT), has awarded N70.5 million in grants to six winners of the Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her (DELT-Her) initiative. The awards followed a competitive call for proposals under the Delta-2 program, aimed at empowering young female engineers with innovative projects.
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Launched on March 8, 2024, during the International Women’s Day celebration, the DELT-Her initiative seeks to address gender imbalances in engineering and technology-based businesses in Nigeria by supporting the innovative ideas of young women in these fields. The program focuses on empowering women to break into traditionally male-dominated sectors and drive meaningful technological advancements.
At the grant award ceremony held at NASENI Headquarters in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Agency, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, represented by Dr. Mrs. Nonyem Onyechi, Coordinating Director of the Planning and Business Development Directorate, highlighted the initiative’s mission to provide young women with the tools and support necessary for success in STEM. He praised the selected projects for challenging the status quo and addressing real-world challenges.
“The DELT-Her initiative is about empowering young women in engineering and technology,” said Halilu. “The selected projects demonstrate the potential to solve significant problems, and we encourage the awardees to see their success as an inspiration for other young women aspiring to excel in these fields.”
Dr. Mohammed Dahiru, Chairman of PICTT, noted that the winners were selected after a thorough evaluation process of over 120 applications. “Today, we celebrate our awardees’ achievements while also recognizing the International Day of the Girl Child. This event is a step toward changing Nigeria’s landscape through technology transfer,” he stated.
The six recipients will receive grants to cover project costs, technical support, and assistance in linking with partners for commercialization. Some awardees have also been invited to participate in the upcoming AfriLabs Annual Gathering in Cape Town, South Africa.
The grant recipients and their projects include:
- Rukkaya Abdulmutalib: “Artificial Intelligence Censored Machine to Monitor Soil Health for Greenhouses” (N3 million)
- Patience Ibrahim-Janda: “Automobile Brake Pads Produced from Organic Waste” (N10 million)
- Amina Ibrahim Khaleel: “Drone for Intelligent Real-time Security and Target Tracking” (N17.5 million)
- Dr. Kudirat Oyewumi Jimoh: “Electronic Training Board/Device for Science and Engineering Students” (N16.5 million)
- Dr. Ikechukwu Ijeoma Francisca: “Automatic Bambara Flour Processing Machine” (N8.5 million)
- Abisola Ayomide Olayiwola: “Solar-powered Snail Shelling Machine” (N15 million)
To commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child, four junior secondary schools showcased their innovative projects at the NASENI event. The schools and their projects included a fuel-less generator, a mini refinery converting plastic waste to fuel, a solar-powered sea planting machine, and a methane gas production device using water and petrol.
NASENI’s commitment to supporting women in STEM aligns with broader goals to foster inclusivity and drive technological growth in Nigeria.
