By Faridat Salifu
The Federal Government has set a target to transition one million households from traditional firewood-based cooking methods to clean, sustainable energy solutions as part of its climate action initiatives.
This recent announcement was made by the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, during a press briefing in Abuja, marking her first 100 days in office.
The minister emphasized that this initiative is a key part of Nigeria’s gender-responsive climate action efforts, noting that women, who are disproportionately impacted by climate change, play a vital role in advocating for solutions and leadership in climate adaptation and mitigation.
She also highlighted Nigeria’s participation at COP29 in Azerbaijan as a significant platform for engaging the international community on gender-responsive climate policies.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim also discussed the ministry’s broader goal of empowering 10 million women by 2027, which aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of driving the nation’s economic growth toward a $1 trillion economy.
As part of this economic empowerment strategy, the Ministry of Women Affairs is implementing several key initiatives, including the “Nigeria for Women Scale-Up Project,” backed by the World Bank.
This project aims to equip 4.5 million women with financial literacy, business development skills, and cooperative training to support sustainable economic contributions.
The ministry has also launched the MOWA-SARA Accelerated Skills Acquisition Programme in partnership with WEMA Bank, which will provide vocational training and business skills to 500,000 women.
The first phase of the program, currently underway in Kano, is training 2,500 women in various skills necessary for entrepreneurship and financial independence.
Efforts to improve women’s access to finance are also underway, with the establishment of a National Microfinance Framework designed to bridge the financing gap for women entrepreneurs.
This framework aims to provide affordable credit and gender-responsive financial services to women, enabling them to expand their businesses and contribute more to national development.
Further supporting women and vulnerable groups, the Ministry has launched a food intervention program to provide financial assistance and support women-led agricultural projects, ensuring no one is left behind during challenging economic times.
In addition to these initiatives, the ministry has introduced a nationwide campaign to distribute menstrual hygiene kits to 10,000 girls, supporting their education and well-being while addressing period poverty.
Dr. Suwaiba Sa’id-Ahmad, the Minister of State for Education, also emphasized the importance of women seizing available opportunities for empowerment. She commended Sulaiman-Ibrahim’s efforts in addressing critical issues affecting Nigerian women and girls, including early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and access to education.