PICTT 2025 DELT-Her Program: Empowering Nigeria’s Next Generation of Female Engineers

PICTT 2025 DELT-Her Program: Empowering Nigeria’s Next Generation of Female Engineers

PICTT 2025 DELT-Her Program: Empowering Nigeria’s Next Generation of Female Engineers: PICTT 2025 DELT-Her Program: Empowering Nigeria’s Next Generation of Female Engineers,In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed an accelerating push toward science, technology, and innovation as pillars for national development. In this landscape, engineering has emerged as a critical discipline in addressing some of the country’s most pressing challenges—from infrastructural deficits to agricultural mechanization and renewable energy. However, despite its importance, the engineering field in Nigeria has long been dominated by men, creating an unequal distribution of opportunity and representation. This imbalance, if not proactively addressed, risks excluding a significant portion of the population from contributing to and benefiting from technological advancement.

Recognizing this glaring gap and the untapped potential of women in science and technology, the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT), under the Delta-2 program in partnership with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), launched the DELT-Her Initiative in 2024. The acronym DELT-Her stands for “Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her,” and it represents more than just a capacity-building program—it’s a transformative national strategy to promote gender equity in engineering through innovation, funding, and mentorship.

The DELT-Her Initiative was designed as a subcomponent of the broader Delta-2 program, a bilateral technology transfer collaboration between the Nigerian government and the Czech Republic. While Delta-2 focuses on deploying innovative technological solutions across various economic sectors in Nigeria, DELT-Her zeroes in on the critical need to support, amplify, and empower female engineers—those who are not only capable of contributing meaningfully to the national economy but are also often marginalized within their professional communities.

At its core, DELT-Her is about creating visibility and opportunity.  It addresses systemic barriers such as lack of access to research funding, gender biases in the engineering workforce, and a scarcity of mentorship opportunities for women. By offering competitive grants, professional development, and high-profile recognition, the program aims to elevate the profile of women in engineering while simultaneously encouraging younger girls to pursue careers in technical fields.

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The 2025 edition of the DELT-Her Program is even more ambitious and impactful than its inaugural launch. With an expanded budget, a growing network of mentors, and partnerships with academic institutions and industry leaders, the program aims not just to support isolated projects but to build a sustainable ecosystem that nurtures female talent across Nigeria. The emphasis is on long-term empowerment, leadership development, and measurable outcomes.

As Nigeria works towards achieving gender parity and unlocking the full potential of its workforce, initiatives like DELT-Her are not just timely—they are essential. By empowering women to lead in traditionally male-dominated fields such as engineering, Nigeria stands to gain not only social progress but also increased innovation, economic competitiveness, and community development. DELT-Her is more than a program—it is a movement for equality, progress, and national transformation through the lens of female-led engineering innovation.

The Genesis of DELT-Her

Launched on March 8, 2024, coinciding with International Women’s Day, the DELT-Her initiative is a subset of the broader Delta-2 program, a bilateral agreement between Nigeria and the Czech Republic. This collaboration focuses on promoting technological solutions across various sectors of the Nigerian economy. DELT-Her specifically targets the underrepresentation of women in engineering, aiming to foster a more inclusive and diverse engineering landscape in Nigeria .Blueprint Newspapers Limited+6Leadership News+6delther.pictt.gov.ng+6delther.pictt.gov.ngBlueprint Newspapers Limited+2The Guardian Nigeria+2delther.pictt.gov.ng+2

Objectives of the DELT-Her Initiative

The DELT-Her program is built upon four central objectives:

1. Addressing Gender Imbalance: By sponsoring innovative ideas from young female engineers, the program seeks to correct the existing gender disparity in engineering and technology studies and practices in Nigeria.Nairametrics+3delther.pictt.gov.ng+3Blueprint Newspapers Limited+3

2. Fostering Inclusivity: Creating a more inclusive engineering practice landscape by supporting women-led projects and startups.Nairametrics+9The Guardian Nigeria+9Blueprint Newspapers Limited+9

3. Building Collaborative Networks: Establishing a network of stakeholders, including tertiary institutions, business, and industry leaders, to support women in engineering.Nairametrics+7Blueprint Newspapers Limited+7delther.pictt.gov.ng+7

4. Inspiring Future Generations: Making female engineering success stories more visible to inspire school-age girls to consider engineering as a lifelong career .The Nation Newspaper+2delther.pictt.gov.ng+2Blueprint Newspapers Limited+2

The Application Process

The DELT-Her program invites applications from Nigerian women aged 23 to 45 who hold at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering or related fields. Applicants are required to submit detailed proposals outlining their innovative engineering ideas. Each team must comprise at least 60% female participants to qualify for funding. The application process is designed to be inclusive and accessible, with no application fees required .The Nation Newspaper+7delther.pictt.gov.ng+7Leadership News+7

Selection and Funding

Upon receiving over 120 applications, the DELT-Her program underwent a rigorous selection process to identify the most promising projects. In October 2024, six female engineers were awarded a total of ₦70.5 million in grants to develop their innovative projects. These projects span various sectors, including agriculture, renewable energy, and education, demonstrating the diverse potential of women in engineering .Science Nigeria+2Nairametrics+2Pulse Nigeria+2

Highlighted Projects and Innovators

1. Engr. Rukkaya Abdulmutalib: Developed an AI-powered machine to monitor soil health in greenhouses, receiving ₦3 million.Pulse Nigeria+2Nairametrics+2Science Nigeria+2

2. Patience Ibrahim-Janda: Created automobile brake pads from organic waste, awarded ₦10 million.Nairametrics+5Science Nigeria+5Nairametrics+5

3. Engr. Amina Ibrahim Khaleel: Designed a drone for intelligent real-time security and target tracking, securing ₦17.5 million.Nairametrics+2Science Nigeria+2Pulse Nigeria+2

4. Engr. Dr. Kudirat Oyewumi Jimoh: Produced an electronic training board for science and engineering students, granted ₦16.5 million.Pulse Nigeria+2Nairametrics+2Science Nigeria+2

5. Engr. Dr. Ikechukwu Ijeoma Francisca: Developed an automatic Bambara flour processing machine, receiving ₦8.5 million.Pulse Nigeria+2Nairametrics+2Science Nigeria+2

6. Engr. Abisola Ayomide Olayiwola: Created a solar-powered snail shelling machine, awarded ₦15 million .Pulse Nigeria+2Nairametrics+2Science Nigeria+2

Mentorship and Support

Beyond financial grants and public recognition, one of the defining features of the DELT-Her Program is its robust mentorship and support framework. The leadership behind the initiative recognized early on that providing funding alone is insufficient to sustain long-term impact. Many women in engineering, particularly those at the beginning of their professional journeys, face unique challenges that go beyond capital. These include limited access to professional networks, lack of industry exposure, and the need for personal and professional guidance. This is where the mentorship component of DELT-Her becomes a vital lifeline for participants.

The DELT-Her Program matches each grant recipient with seasoned mentors—established female engineers, technology experts, entrepreneurs, and business leaders—who offer ongoing support throughout the life of the funded project. These mentors serve not just as technical advisors but as role models, confidence builders, and sounding boards for navigating complex challenges. Through scheduled mentorship sessions, peer learning, and review meetings, mentees are equipped to refine their ideas, pivot when necessary, and scale their solutions with real-world applicability.

The mentorship aspect also focuses on entrepreneurial training, recognizing that many participants are innovators who may wish to commercialize their solutions. Topics such as product development, intellectual property rights, financial management, marketing strategies, and investor pitching are covered in workshops and one-on-one mentoring sessions. This holistic approach ensures that the participants are not only building viable engineering solutions but also developing the business acumen necessary to sustain and grow their innovations.

In addition to direct mentorship, the DELT-Her Program fosters collaborative learning among participants. By creating a community of female engineers working on diverse but complementary projects, the program encourages cross-learning and peer mentoring. This collaborative spirit is further strengthened through networking events, online platforms, and cohort-based training modules where participants share challenges, insights, and progress updates.

The support structure of DELT-Her also extends into academia and industry. The program has engaged partnerships with universities, research centers, and engineering firms to provide access to laboratories, equipment, and industry data. These resources are crucial for prototyping, field testing, and refining solutions. Furthermore, the involvement of tertiary institutions ensures that participants receive recognition for their innovations, potentially opening doors for academic publication or further research funding.

Perhaps most significantly, the DELT-Her mentorship model is deeply rooted in empowerment. Many of the mentors themselves are women who have broken through glass ceilings and now wish to give back. Their stories, shared during public forums, help dismantle stereotypes and affirm the belief that Nigerian women can and should be leaders in engineering.

This multi-tiered support ecosystem transforms what might otherwise be an isolated journey into a collective, empowering experience. Through DELT-Her, mentorship is not a mere add-on—it is a central pillar that sustains motivation, provides expert navigation, and fosters resilience in a challenging but rewarding field. The combination of technical, business, and emotional support ensures that DELT-Her participants are not only successful in their projects but also inspired to mentor others, thereby creating a ripple effect of empowerment across generations.

Broader Impact and Future Goals

The DELT-Her initiative aspires to double the number of female engineers in Nigeria over the next five years. By focusing on secondary education and creating awareness through storytelling campaigns, the program seeks to inspire young girls to pursue careers in engineering. This long-term vision aims to create a sustainable pipeline of female talent in the engineering sector, contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth and technological advancement .Nairametrics+8Science Nigeria+8Blueprint Newspapers Limited+8Science Nigeria+2The Nation Newspaper+2Nairametrics+2

Conclusion

PICTT 2025 DELT-Her Program: Empowering Nigeria’s Next Generation of Female Engineers, the PICTT 2025 DELT-Her Program represents a paradigm shift in the way Nigeria approaches gender equity, innovation, and national development. It goes far beyond the traditional structure of grant-making programs by offering a comprehensive support system that uplifts women not only as contributors to engineering but as leaders in innovation and change agents in society. Through targeted funding, mentorship, training, and visibility, the program creates a conducive environment for Nigerian women to thrive in the traditionally male-dominated engineering sector.

In a country where gender disparities in STEM fields are deeply rooted in cultural, institutional, and economic factors, the DELT-Her initiative offers a practical and inspiring solution. It doesn’t just advocate for women’s participation in engineering—it equips them with the tools, resources, and networks necessary to lead and innovate. It provides a platform where ideas can flourish, where problems can be tackled with localized and scalable solutions, and where women can build legacies that influence national policy, educational systems, and industrial transformation.

The real power of DELT-Her lies in its ability to create a pipeline of female engineering talent. By identifying and supporting early-career innovators, and by offering a nurturing ecosystem for their ideas to take root and blossom, the program is helping to build a future where female engineers are not an exception but a norm. This is critical not just for achieving equity but for fostering innovation—diverse perspectives lead to better solutions, and gender-inclusive teams have been proven to perform better in problem-solving and innovation-driven environments.

Moreover, the visibility the program gives to its participants cannot be overstated. Public recognition of women engineers, their stories, and their projects contributes significantly to reshaping societal perceptions. It sends a powerful message to young girls in secondary schools, to parents, to employers, and to policymakers—that women belong in the lab, in the workshop, in the classroom, in boardrooms, and in leadership. When girls see women like themselves building drones, designing renewable energy systems, or developing health tech solutions, the horizon of what’s possible expands.

Looking ahead, the DELT-Her Program serves as a scalable model that other African nations—and indeed, other sectors—can emulate. Its emphasis on local innovation, female empowerment, and inclusive development aligns with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to gender equality, quality education, industry innovation, and decent work. Nigeria, through this initiative, is not only addressing internal developmental goals but is also positioning itself as a regional leader in gender-inclusive innovation.

As we anticipate future editions of the DELT-Her Program, the challenge now is to sustain the momentum. Continued funding, policy support, industry involvement, and mentorship will be crucial. Government agencies, NGOs, private sector partners, and educational institutions all have a role to play in scaling this impact.

Ultimately, the DELT-Her Program is more than a scholarship or funding opportunity—it is a movement. It’s a declaration that the time for gender equity in engineering is now, and Nigeria is ready to lead by example. With continued commitment and collective effort, the vision of a thriving, gender-balanced, innovation-driven Nigeria is well within reach.