*The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure through the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer awards N70.5 million grant to six winners of the Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her (DELT-Her) initiative, a project under the agency鈥檚 Delta-2 programme

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) through the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT) has awarded the sum of N70.5 million grant to six winners of the Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her (DELT-Her), via call for proposal, a project under Delta-2 programme of the Agency.

NASENI, March 8, 2024 on the International Women鈥檚 Day celebration, had launched DELT-Her project and call for Proposal, aimed at addressing gender imbalance in the practice of engineering and technology based Businesses in Nigeria, by sponsoring the innovative ideas and projects by young female engineers.

Mr. Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, Director of Information at NASENI, Tuesday, October 15, 2024, stated Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the agency, in his welcome address at the grant award ceremony held Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at NASENI Headquarters, in Abuja, FCT, said “DELT-Her initiative was aimed at empowering young women in engineering and technology.”

The grant recipients and their projects

The grant recipients with their projects are: Engr. Rukkaya Abdulmutalib,聽 鈥楢rtificial Intelligence Censored Machine to Monitor Soil Health for Green-Houses N3m);聽 Patience Ibrahim-Janda, 鈥楢utomobile Brake Pads produced from Organic Waste鈥� N10m); Engr. Amina Ibrahim Khaleel, 鈥楧rone for Intelligent ReaL-time Security and Target Tracking鈥� (N17.5m);聽 Engr. Dr. Kudirat Oyewumi Jimoh, 鈥楨lectronic Training Board/Device for Science and Engineering Students鈥� (N16.5m); Engr. Dr. Ikechukwu Ijeoma Francisca, 鈥楢utomatic Bambara Flour Processing Machine鈥� (N8.5m); and Engr. Abisola Ayomide Olayiwola 鈥楽olar-powered Snail Shelling Machine鈥� (N15m).

Represented on the occasion by Dr. Mrs. Nonyem Onyechi, Coordinating Director, Planning and Business Development Directorate at NASENI, Halilu emphasised the importance of providing women with the necessary tools, platforms, and support to thrive in the fields that have traditionally been male-dominated.

He also said the selected projects not only challenged the status quo but also have the potential to address real-world problems.

The EVC/CEO, in affirming that young girls belong in STEM fields and that their dreams are valid, said: 鈥淚 encourage awardees to view their success as a beacon for others and the commitment to fostering environments where women can excel in engineering and technology.鈥�

Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Dahiru, Chairman of PICTT, said after thorough evaluation process of over 120 applications received, six outstanding innovative ideas were selected for grant to the tune of each project cost estimate and other forms of support.

The event, Dr. Dahiru stated, was to sow a seed that would change Nigeria in terms of technology transfer.

He also noted: 鈥淲e are recognising and celebrating our awardees for their amazing feats, while also recognising the just concluded International Day of the Girl Child, with the hope to inspire the younger generation to embrace and thrive in science and engineering.鈥�

NASENI stated the awardees would receive grants to the tune of the project cost estimate, technical support, links to partners and commercialisation of the R&D institutes outputs.

The agency as well explained that some of the awardees based on their project have also been selected to participate in the forthcoming AFRI. Lab Annual gathering in Cape town, South Africa.

Also, in commemoration of Girl Child International Day celebration, four Junior Girls Secondary Schools exhibited their innovative and technological devices at the Agency. They schools included: Junior Secondary School Jikwoyi 1-Fueless Generator; and Junior Secondary School Pasali 鈥揊abrication of Mini Refinery Waste Plastics into Home Use Liquids Fuels and Gas.

The rest were: Junior Secondary School Phase 3, Gwagwalada-Ultra Modern Solar Power Sea Planting and Chemical Spraying Machine; and Junior Secondary School Kuje-Conversion of Water and petrol into methane Gas by using Pressure and Junior Secondary School Area 11 鈥� Archimedes Screw Turbines.

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