NASENI Unveils DELT-HER, To Support Young Female Engineers

National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, has reiterated commitment to invest in young female engineers towards bridging the gender gap in the engineering sector.

To achieve this, NASENI as part of activities to celebrate the International Women’s Day, unveiled an initiative called ‘DELT- HER’ portal to support and nurture young female engineers into becoming phenomenal leaders.

The acronym DELT- HER means, “Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her”.

On the occasion in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of NASENI, Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu said NASENI through the DELT- HER platform intends to double the number of Engineers in Nigeria within the next five years using the instrumentality of all levels of education to catch them young.

intend to, through DELT-HER, double the number of female engineers in Nigeria over the next five years. This will mean working extensively at the level of secondary education, which is where young girls make the vital decisions regarding choice of professional field”.

Statistically, Mr Halilu who pointed out that it is difficult to find a female engineer among twenty engineers, said NASENI through DELT- HER will champion the course of young female engineers by funding them and creating an enabling environment for them to have access to opportunities that will inspire them to fully develop their potential.

Mr Halilu added that the DELT- HER platform, being promoted in collaboration with the Presidential Implementation Committee On Technology Transfer, will be officially launched tomorrow for young interested engineers that needs any form of support to submit their proposals .

We have specially chosen today, the 2024 International Women’s Day, to launch DELT- HER. DELT-HER is what I call an “opportunity platform”, through which girls and young women can pitch and present their exciting and groundbreaking engineering ideas, for funding by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, through our Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer, PICTT”.

“Very importantly, we want to contribute to the economic growth and development of Nigeria. DELT-HER will create jobs and help develop technical skills and capabilities. And we hope that every additional woman engineer that is emerging can become a role model for another set of women”.

“The global average for female repesentation in engineering is 28%, which is only a little above one in four. In Nigeria it’s only 5%, only one in 20 Nigerian engineers is a woman”.

“What we seek to do is close the gender gap in engineering, inspire the next generation, provide financing support for new ideas and projects, and ultimately strengthen the entire engineering ecosystem ” Halilu said.

In a key note address, the First Female President, Nigeria Society of Engineers, NSE, Magaret Aina Oguntala, who broke the glass ceiling after 66years of NSE’s existence, lauded the initiative and commended PICTT and NASENI for championing the course of women in the engineering sector.

The NSE President who pledged full support for DELT-HER, urged all stakeholders in the sector to mentor and encourage the upcoming engineers particularly women.
“As we embark on this journey together, I urge all stakeholders to actively participate and support the “Developing Engineering Leaders Through “Her initiative. Whether through mentorship, sponsorship, advocacy, or collaboration,each of us has a role to play in creating a more inclusive and equitable engineering profession.

Let us work together with determination, dedication, and resolve to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create a future where every aspiring engineer, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.” Oguntala stated.

Earlier, the Chairman, Presidential Implementation Committee On Technology Transfer, Muhammed Dahiru who noted that gender imbalance in engineering sector calls for urgent action, solicited the buy-in of all the strategic engineering practitioners and bodies nationwide, to ensure that the seed being sown today (DELT- HER) is nurtured into a forest of fruitful trees.”

To support the actualization of the birth of multiple start-up companies from ideas selected under this project, each successful applicant will be matched with female mentors who are industry giants both in engineering and business. It is firmly believed that the shoulders of these giants will provide the supportive environment that is required for success.” Dahiru said.

In their good will messages, most of the speakers maintained that Nigeria cannot be anywhere, if science and technology is not taking seriously.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji