Tinubu Aide Abba Isa Pushes for Inclusive Energy Access, STEM Opportunities for Women With Disabilities
By Lanre Oloyede
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has called for deliberate investments in inclusive energy access and engineering education for women and girls with disabilities, saying sustainable energy remains a critical driver of economic empowerment, education, healthcare and national development.
Abba Isa made the call while delivering his address at the V.E.C.T.O.R. Initiative 2026, organised by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) through its Gender, Environmental, Social Inclusion and Counselling (GESIC) Unit to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Women in Engineering.
Speaking on the theme, “Engineering Intelligence,” the presidential aide said the celebration aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises technological innovation, engineering excellence and sustainable development.
He praised the REA, the GESIC Unit, development partners, industry leaders and other stakeholders for championing gender inclusion and creating opportunities for women and girls to excel in engineering, science, technology and innovation.
According to him, the achievements of women engineers continue to inspire a new generation of young girls to pursue careers in STEM while breaking long-standing barriers and stereotypes.
Abba Isa stressed that access to reliable and sustainable energy goes beyond infrastructure, describing it as a catalyst for inclusion, economic growth, quality healthcare, education, entrepreneurship and improved living standards.
He reaffirmed the commitment of his office to collaborate with the Rural Electrification Agency and other partners to expand access to clean and sustainable energy solutions for women and girls with disabilities across the country.
“Nigeria is home to approximately 35.5 million persons with disabilities. Excluding this significant population from sustainable and renewable energy initiatives comes at a huge economic cost,” he said.
He noted that the lack of electricity and clean energy technologies further deepens barriers to education, communication, mobility, healthcare delivery and entrepreneurship for persons with disabilities, while inclusive energy systems would unlock productivity, job creation, innovation and social mobility.
The presidential aide urged government institutions, engineering bodies, development partners, educational institutions and the private sector to strengthen collaboration in promoting diversity, accessibility and equal opportunities within the engineering profession.
He also advocated increased investment in mentorship programmes, scholarships, technical training, capacity building and inclusive policies that would encourage more girls and women, particularly those with disabilities, to pursue careers in engineering and other STEM disciplines.
Addressing young women at the event, Abba Isa encouraged them to embrace innovation, dream big and pursue excellence, assuring them that the engineering profession needs their creativity, resilience and unique perspectives.
He expressed confidence that an inclusive approach to engineering and innovation would accelerate national development and ensure that no Nigerian is left behind, regardless of gender or disability status.
