By Palma Ileye
Federal Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs, has launched a stakeholder engagement protocol aimed at ending energy poverty amongst Nigerian women also to deliver clean energy solutions to women across all 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria.
This initiative seeks to provide energy access through solar home systems, clean cooking technologies, and other productive-use appliances, empower women with clean energy solutions, training, and entrepreneurship opportunities, reduce premature deaths caused by toxic smoke from firewood and traditional cooking stoves and promote economic growth, dignity, and safety for women in rural communities.
Speaking at the event held in Abuja, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that over eighty thousand Nigerian women die yearly as a result of toxic smoke from firewood and traditional cooking stoves hence the need for cleaner energy system.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated that these women whose death was avoidable and unjust were mothers, providers, and nation-builders, and as such the deaths must end.
She added that 43% of the 85 million population of Nigerian women lack access to electricity, especially women in the rural communities, noting that absence of electricity is absence of opportunity, dignity, safety and hope.
She further stated that efforts to build a natural clean energy ecosystem to foster financial institutions, local manufacturers, global tech firms, women’s cooperatives, and development agencies are in top gear.
She said the plans to end energy poverty for Nigerian women, through these efforts aimed to reach Nigerian women across all 774 Local Government Areas, delivering lifesaving and life-changing clean energy solutions.
She said, “Every year, over 80,000 Nigerian women die prematurely from the toxic smoke of firewood and traditional cooking stoves. Eighty thousand lives cut short while simply trying to prepare a meal. These women are not statistics. They are mothers. They are providers. They are nation-builders. Their deaths are avoidable, unjust, and must end on our watch.”
The Minister said energy poverty was not just a technical challenge, but a social injustice which has locked women in cycles of unpaid labour, economic dependence, and health risks.
According to her, in many communities, women spend up to 8 hours a week gathering firewood, noting that such time could have been deployed to a more productive engagement if only they had power.
“Through this initiative, we will provide energy access through solar home systems, clean cooking technologies, solar water pumps, e-mobility tools, and other productive-use appliances in every corner of this nation.
“Today, we commence our stakeholder engagements as we actualize plans for ending energy poverty for Nigerian women. Their deaths are avoidable, unjust, and must end on our watch.
“It is expected with this program 80,000 lives will be saved annually from premature deaths caused by energy poverty.
“Women will be empowered with clean energy solutions, training, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Homes will be powered with solar energy, reducing reliance on firewood and traditional cooking stoves. Women will be equipped with modern clean cooking technologies, solar-powered tools, and energy-efficient solutions.
“The initiative aims to create a national clean energy ecosystem that brings together ministries, financial institutions, local manufacturers, and development agencies to promote economic growth and development for Nigerian women,” she explained.
