Greenplinth Africa has introduced an improved and efficient cooking energy solution for Nigeria, targeting 80 million women.
In a statement made available to newsmen, the firm noted the 80 million Clean Cookstoves Project involved the procurement, pre-fabrication, assembling and inaugurating of highly efficient fuel wood cookstoves as well as awareness and sensitisation campaigns and training of users mainly in households across the 36 States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the organisers of the event, themed ‘A gender approach to clean cooking access in Africa’, it was the first time in the world that an efficient clean cookstoves project of this magnitude is being fully funded and distributed free.
The cook stoves will be deployed at no cost to the beneficiaries mostly women and households in Nigeria.
The organisers noted also that it was the first clean cook stove project to be launched with the co-benefit of innovative tree planting and nurturing to eliminate or reduce poverty, hunger, and diseases.
Speaking at the official flag-off, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Greenplinth Africa Limited, Dr Olawale Akinwumi, said, “We are gathered here today to officially flag off the largest single clean cookstoves project in the world – The 80M Clean Cookstoves Project in Nigeria. This day, history is being made on behalf of the ever-resilient women of Africa. Why? Because they deserve a cleaner cooking deal.
“As we all know, women and children are mostly at the receiving end when we talk of lack of access to clean and efficient cooking – This has become a daily conversation. A definite journey for a determined and uncompromising delivery of clean and efficient cooking technologies for women and households in Nigeria and Africa starts today.”
According to Akinwumi, more than 950 million Africans lack access to clean cooking, adding that out of the figure, over 180 million Nigerians are counted.
The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Titilayo Oshodi, stated that a green economy has created numerous opportunities for revenue generation.
She emphasised that it has the potential to transform the pathways for businesses, commerce, and finance.