Empowering Rural Women with Drone Technology

Strengthening Aviation Mandate through Partnership
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and Caverton Helicopters have initiated the second batch of a six-week training program for 10 selected female engineers and scientists from NASENI. The training program is part of a partnership agreement between NASENI and Caverton Helicopters, known as NASCAV, aimed at enhancing the aviation mandate of NASENI. The training program is a key component of the SHEFLY project, which aims to empower rural women to utilize drone technology for precision farming and increased agricultural yields. The SHEFLY project is a pioneering initiative by the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Halilu, who is committed to promoting women in STEM fields and bridging the existing gender gap. The selection of female trainees from various institutes across different zones was a deliberate effort to enable them manage clusters that will be set up to train rural women in drone technology for enhanced agricultural activities nationwide.

Key Components of the Training Program
The training program is a six-week course that covers the principles of UAVs technology
The program is designed to equip the trainees with the skills and knowledge required to operate UAVs safely and effectively
The training program is certified by a UK licensing authority, ensuring compliance with international standards and best practices

Awareness and Importance of UAVs
The Managing Director of Caverton Helicopters, Capt. Bello Ibrahim, welcomed the trainees to the training exercise, emphasizing the importance of training in ensuring safety and accountability. He noted that UAVs are among the modern aircraft in the aviation sector and that the training is timely to ensure that NASENI remains current with global technological advancements.

“The training is timely to ensure we remain current with global technological advancements,”

said Capt. Bello Ibrahim. He urged the trainees to stay focused to acquire the knowledge they have come for. Empowering Women in STEM
The Project Coordinator of Caverton Drones, Mr. Ese Obukonise stated that the training adheres to aerodynamic principles and is certified by a UK licensing authority, ensuring compliance with international standards and best practices. He noted that the demand for UAV pilots in the world is exceptionally high and that the SHEFLY project would not only promote gender inclusiveness in a male-dominated field, but also empower women to capitalize on emerging opportunities in UAV technology. Training Objectives and Outcomes
The training program aims to equip the trainees with the skills and knowledge required to operate UAVs safely and effectively. Upon completion, the female trainees will in turn, train rural women farmers to utilize drone technology to improve and boost farm yields.

Training Objectives	Training Outcomes
Equip trainees with skills and knowledge required to operate UAVs safely and effectively	Enable trainees to train rural women farmers in drone technology for enhanced agricultural activities nationwide

Conclusion
The training program is a significant step towards empowering rural women with drone technology. The partnership between NASENI and Caverton Helicopters is a testament to the importance of collaboration in promoting women in STEM fields. The SHEFLY project is a valuable initiative that will not only promote gender inclusiveness but also provide opportunities for women to capitalize on emerging trends in UAV technology. With this training program, NASENI is taking a significant step towards bridging the existing gender gap and promoting women in STEM fields.