NGO sensitises Lagos market women to clean cooking energy
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Earth and Sustainability Initiative (ESI), has intensified its community advocacy campaign to promote clean cooking energy among women in low-income and rural communities across Lagos State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NGO organised an outreach programme at Agboju Market on Thursday in Lagos.
The ESI Programme Director, Mrs Ebere Akwuebue, said the organisation has been educating women on the dangers of unsafe cooking practices.
Akwuebue said many households still rely on charcoal, firewood, sawdust and other solid fuels that pose serious health risks and contribute significantly to environmental pollution and climate change.
She said the advocacy aims to simplify information on climate change, highlight health implications of traditional cooking methods, and enlighten women on available cleaner alternatives.
According to her, communities visited by the ESI have expressed strong interest in transitioning to cleaner cooking technologies but are often hindered by limited access and affordability.
Akwuebue said the NGO partnered with Solar Sisters last year to distribute clean cookstoves.
She disclosed that the NGO would explore further collaboration with private and public sector stakeholders to expand access.
She added that the organisation is considering a pay-as-you-go model to enable women acquire clean cookstoves through small instalment payments.
“This approach can serve as a low-hanging fruit in reducing emissions, building awareness and supporting Nigeria’s drive toward achieving net-zero targets,” she said.
Akwuebue disclosed that ESI currently works directly with community leaders to secure access and mobilise households but hopes to formalise partnerships with relevant government agencies in future engagements.
She said more than 100 women participated in the training, adding that past outreaches in the last three years recorded attendance ranging from 150 to 200 participants per community.
Akwuebue said the clean cookstoves demonstrated during the event use reduced quantities of briquettes or charcoal, are insulated and burn more efficiently than traditional open-fire pots.
Also speaking, Mrs Margret Ibekwe, who represented the market leadership of the host community, commended the initiative for bringing the sensitisation to grassroots women.
Ibekwe said the demonstration exposed many women to clean cookstoves for the first time, adding that the devices would help reduce smoke pollution and promote healthier cooking environments.
She encouraged women to adopt the technology, saying it would improve household well-being while contributing to safer and cleaner communities.
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