FG to Train Female Engineers on High-Tech UAV Training to Revolutionize Farming

By Achimi Muktar

In a bold move to fuse female empowerment with cutting-edge tech, 10 Nigerian female engineers and scientists have kicked off an intensive six-week training in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology—thanks to a partnership between the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and Caverton Helicopters.

This isn’t just another tech workshop. It’s the second phase of SHEFLY, a flagship initiative designed to equip women with drone skills for precision farming, as part of a larger plan to transform agriculture in Nigeria’s rural communities.

Held at Caverton’s Training School in Ikeja, Lagos, the program is part of NASENI’s broader mandate to build indigenous capacity in aviation technology. But this cohort is special: it’s all-female, purposefully selected from across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones to represent the next generation of women tech leaders in agriculture.

“This is more than a training. It’s a movement,” said Dr. Abayomi Okesola, Team Lead for the NASCAV (NASENI-Caverton) project, during the opening ceremony. “The goal is to train women who will, in turn, train thousands more rural women, enabling them to use drones to monitor crops, boost yields, and feed the nation.”

The SHEFLY project is the brainchild of NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, and aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—a national vision to increase women’s participation in STEM, technology, and entrepreneurship.

“This project reflects NASENI’s commitment to closing the gender gap in tech,” Okesola added. “We are intentionally building a network of women engineers who will be at the forefront of technological innovation in agriculture.”

Speaking on behalf of Caverton Helicopters’ MD, Captain Bello Ibrahim, Director of Corporate Services Mr. Ayodele Omueti stressed that UAVs are redefining modern aviation.

He urged the participants to be trailblazers, noting that UAV technology is quickly becoming an essential tool in sectors like surveillance, logistics, and—now—farming.

“This training is certified to international standards by a UK licensing body,” added Caverton’s Drones Project Coordinator, Mr. Ese Obukonise. “With the global demand for drone pilots skyrocketing, these women are stepping into a high-demand, high-impact field.”

Upon completion of the program, the 10 engineers will lead the deployment of drone-assisted precision agriculture in rural areas, teaching local women how to use drones for mapping, pest detection, soil analysis, and more. The ultimate goal? To increase food security, boost rural incomes, and position Nigerian women as key players in smart farming.

The SHEFLY project will be officially launched at NASENI’s Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute (AAVDI) in Kaduna, signaling the start of what could be Nigeria’s biggest female-led agricultural tech revolution yet.

If you thought drones were just for military and movies—think again. In Nigeria, they’re becoming tools of empowerment, food production, and gender equity. And these women? They’re flying high—literally and figuratively.