In a collaborative effort to combat climate change and improve public health, the Women Initiative for Sustainable Environment (WISE), in partnership with the Kaduna State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, has distributed clean cookstoves to 400 women in Kaduna. This initiative was part of a one-day event focused on raising awareness, advocating for, and creating demand for clean cookstoves in the region.
The event, held on Friday, was led by WISE’s Founder and Programme Director, Olanike Olugboji-Daramola, who emphasized the initiative’s broader goal of addressing climate change challenges. Themed “Empowering Lives and Saving Our Planet, One Clean Cook Stove at a Time,” the project received support from the Federal Ministry of Environment, Women’s Earth Alliance, and Nenu Engineering Ltd.
Citing a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), Mrs. Olugboji-Daramola highlighted the alarming statistic that Nigeria leads the world in smoke-related deaths among women. She further explained that women who cook three meals daily over open fires are exposed to smoke levels equivalent to smoking 23 to 24 packets of cigarettes a day.
“These women, often unaware of the health risks associated with smoke inhalation, are placing themselves in serious danger by cooking in enclosed spaces with firewood,” she said. “By promoting the use of clean cookstoves, we aim to significantly reduce this health risk while empowering women to contribute to climate change solutions in their communities.”
Since its inception, WISE has distributed over 60,000 clean cookstoves and has mobilized and trained more than 1,860 clean cookstove entrepreneurs and advocates across Nigeria.
Kaduna State’s Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, praised the initiative as beneficial both for families and the environment. He noted that the adoption of clean cookstoves would reduce carbon emissions and decrease the demand for firewood, particularly among rural women, thereby curbing deforestation and its negative impact on climate change.
“Trees are essential for purifying the air we breathe and for absorbing carbon,” Mr. Buba said, reiterating the state’s opposition to tree felling and its commitment to environmental partnerships to create a greener Kaduna.
Linda Yakubu, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, urged the beneficiaries not to sell the stoves, stressing the importance of using them as intended to support the fight against climate change.
Beneficiaries of the initiative, including Asibi Hassan and Hauwa Magayaki, hailed the program as transformative. Mrs. Hassan noted that the stoves have not only improved their health but also saved time and money. Mrs. Magayaki echoed these sentiments, saying the initiative has empowered women to take charge of their health and environment.
“We have learned about the dangers of smoke inhalation and the importance of reducing carbon emissions,” Mrs. Magayaki said. “We are grateful to WISE and its partners for providing these stoves and educating us on their benefits. This initiative is improving women’s health and contributing to a reduction in carbon emissions. We are proud to be part of this movement towards a more sustainable future.”
