The Federal Government of Nigeria has granted the sum of ₦200 million in grants to 14 women engineers who are outstanding which will enable women to create innovative solutions to address the major national issues in agriculture clean energy and digital security, healthcare and sustainability for the environment.
The initiative, which is jointly implemented through PICTT and NASENI, is part of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT) as well as the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) represents the second stage of the Development Engineering Leadership and Technology Her (DELT-Her) programme.
This program is part of the federal government’s longer-term plan to overcome gender inequalities within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) while encouraging technological innovation and economic expansion across the country.
Promoting Women’s Leadership in Engineering
In a speech at the award ceremony in Abuja the Dr. Dahiru Mohammed, the Chairman of PICTT has described DELT-Her as an “transformative platform designed to nurture women leaders in engineering and technology.”
“DELT-Her was conceived to address the gender imbalance in STEM, creating an environment where women can lead groundbreaking innovations,” said the CEO.
Dr. Mohammed highlighted the exponential expansion of the program from its beginning. The 2024 edition benefited six female engineers, with N70.5 million, and the 2025 cycle saw an astounding 9,925 applications in contrast to just 120 applicants in the previous year.
“From this highly competitive pool, 14 remarkable women were selected and awarded over N200 million to develop innovations that will shape Nigeria’s technology future,” said the official.
Driving Innovation Across Key Sectors
The projects selected under DELT-Her 2025 address a range of critical areas for Nigeria’s sustainable development
- Agriculture Enhancing the security of food through intelligent farming tools.
- Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy is a research and development of sustainable energy solutions for rural communities.
- Healthcare is a way to create accessible health and diagnostic tools.
- Mobility is a breakthrough in eco-friendly transportation and logistics technology.
- Digital Security — the latest cybersecurity tools.
- Environment Sustainability – dealing with environmental challenges like pollution and waste.
These new technologies are expected to propel forward the national economy, boost the local manufacturing industry and help in achieving Nigeria’s Science Technology, Innovation, and road map (NSTIR).
Mentoring the Next Generation of Innovators
Beyond the funding, DELT-Her extends its reach through the mentoring of STEM students for girls attending secondary schools. According the Dr. Mohammed, the initiative was expanded from mentoring 30 girls from 2024 inside the FCT to assisting more than 150 girls from five states – Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory in 2025.
“These young participants have already developed prototypes like biodiesel production technology and solar-powered power banks, inspiring the next generation of innovators,” He declared.
NASENI Commends Women’s Innovation Drive
Ms. Olamide Apejoye who is the Project Coordinator for DELT-Her has noted that the rise in participation is a reflection of increasing awareness and enthusiasm for female-led innovations across the nation.
“We received almost 10,000 entries this year. That’s which is up from 150 applications last year. The number of applicants went up from 6 to 14 and the total amount of funding increased between N17.5 million up to N228 millions,” the woman said.
Apejoye stated she believes that DELT-Her encourages the entrepreneurship of its members, as well as employment creation, and economic growth by encouraging women to pursue engineering and science career paths.
“This initiative empowers women to bridge gaps in innovation and contribute to Nigeria’s economic diversification,” she said.
Commitment to Inclusive Technology Growth
The initiative was launched in 2024 The DELT-Her program is in line in line with Federal government’s mission to promote local innovation and transfer of technology. It also promotes the inclusion of all students in STEM which is a major element of Nigeria’s development strategy.
Recent statistics indicate that women make up just 22 percent the Nigerian engineering population. This highlights the importance of initiatives such as DELT-Her to promote gender equality.
“Empowering women engineers is not just about inclusion — it’s about harnessing untapped talent for national progress,” an official said during the conference.
Conclusion
The DELT-Her 2025 grants of ₦200 million grants highlight that the federal government’s dedication to encouraging female engineers and encouraging gender-inclusive innovation.
Through cooperation with the NASENI with PICTT This initiative is making a real difference by providing women with the funds, mentorship and the resources required to convert ideas into solutions for the nation..
As Nigeria strives to achieve technological independence programs such as DELT-Her will be essential to unleashing Nigeria’s potential for innovation just one female engineer at one time.