The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT) have granted N229 million to 14 awardees of the Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her (DELT-Her 2.0) initiative.
The awardees were selected from a pool of 9,925 project proposals and will receive funding to advance their innovative projects in critical sectors such as agriculture, clean energy, health, mobility, digital security, and environmental sustainability.
The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, stated that DELT-Her represents an opportunity platform for women to turn bold engineering ideas into solutions that change the world.
He emphasised that gender inclusion is not charity, but a strategy that drives better designs, smarter products, and more human-centered innovation.
Halilu noted that the DELT-Her initiative has grown significantly, with 9,925 project proposals received this year compared to 120 applications in the previous year.
The programme has also expanded to reach over 150 girls across Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory, providing mentorship, boot camps, and fabrication kits.
The Chairman of PICTT, Dr. Mohammed Dahiru, commended the awardees for their dedication, ingenuity, and resilience and commending them for their contributions to STEM.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, reaffirmed the commitment of the Senate to promoting indigenous production, local content development, and gender inclusion in science and technology.
The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Udoka, commended NASENI and PICTT for their efforts in promoting technological independence, industrial growth, and national competitiveness.
The event was also attended by other notable stakeholders, including the Postmaster-General and CEO of NIPOST, Tola Odeyemi, and the Executive Director of Business Development at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Stella Okotete.
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