The executive vice chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Halilu has unveiled an ambitious initiative aimed at doubling the number of female engineers in Nigeria over the next five years.
The announcement came during the official launch of “Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her” (DELT-Her) at NASENI Headquarters in Abuja, coinciding with the global celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD).
DELT-Her, a subset of the Delta-2 programme, serves as a dynamic platform to bridge the gender gap in engineering practice in the country. Halilu described it as an opportunity for girls and young women to present innovative engineering ideas, securing funding through NASENI’s collaboration with the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT).
“The DELT-Her initiative seeks to correct the imbalance in practice and enterprise development by focusing attention and funding on young women,” stated Halilu. “Moreover, it aims to cultivate public awareness around the imperative of training and mentoring more women in the engineering professions.”
Highlighting the current gender disparity, Halilu emphasised that while the global average for female representation in engineering stands at 28 per cent, in Nigeria, it is a mere five per cent. Only one in 20 Nigerian engineers is a woman. To address this issue, he outlined the comprehensive approach of DELT-Her, emphasising an awareness campaign conducted through schools and story-telling.
“We intend to, through DELT-HER, double the number of female engineers in Nigeria over the next five years,” Halilu affirmed, underscoring the need to focus on secondary education, where crucial decisions about professional paths are often made.
Chairman of PICTT, Dr. Mohammed Dahiru echoed his commitment to supporting innovative ideas in engineering and technology proposed by women. He marked the launch of the call for proposals from young women as the beginning of a series of events aimed at establishing engineering start-up companies owned and run by women.
The president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Margaret Oguntala in her keynote address, emphasised that DELT-HER aims to address challenges faced by female engineers and unlock their full potential.
Among the distinguished guests, chairman of the Senate Committee on NASENI, Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi pledged support for women in the engineering and science sector to ensure they receive their rightful position in society. Additional goodwill messages came from the senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on citizenship and leadership, Rinsola Abiola and chairman of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Engr. Katume Giwa.
The event, graced by students from Government Secondary School, Dasara, Kuje, Abuja, marked a significant step toward fostering gender equality in engineering and technology-based enterprises in Nigeria. With DELT-Her, NASENI is leading the charge in reshaping the landscape and encouraging the next generation of female engineers to thrive in their chosen fields.
