By Abbas Nazil
Greenplinth Africa and Benue State have signed a Memorandum of Agreement aimed at expanding access to climate finance and attracting carbon investments through a large-scale clean cookstove distribution programme and complementary environmental initiatives across the state.
The agreement, registered under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Global Climate Action Portal, focuses on distributing two million improved cookstoves free of charge to women, low-income households, and vulnerable communities in Benue State to reduce reliance on traditional firewood.
Under the partnership, beneficiaries will receive financial incentives of ten thousand naira monthly, free health insurance coverage through enrollment with the National Health Insurance Authority, and additional support such as two cookstoves, stainless steel pots, and forty kilograms of farm waste briquettes per household.
Greenplinth officials stated that states participating in the programme would become among the first to benefit from carbon credit revenues generated through verified emission reductions resulting from reduced fuelwood consumption and lower indoor air pollution.
The initiative was announced during a three-day Green Conference in Lagos themed around decarbonising Africa and strengthening pathways to climate finance, sustainable growth, and green economic development.
In addition to cookstove deployment, the agreement includes plans to plant and nurture one hundred million economic trees across the three senatorial districts of Benue State, creating carbon sinks while generating green jobs for youth and economic empowerment opportunities for women.
According to company representatives, the project is designed to address decades of environmental neglect while positioning Benue as a leading subnational participant in carbon markets and climate investment programmes.
State climate officials described the partnership as a landmark agreement that aligns with the government’s ambition to achieve net zero emissions and improve environmental governance through structured collaboration with the private sector.
They emphasised that replacing firewood with efficient cookstoves will improve indoor air quality, reduce respiratory illnesses, and lower greenhouse gas emissions associated with deforestation and unsustainable biomass use.
Industry stakeholders highlighted that private sector involvement is crucial because it enables faster decision-making, efficient project execution, and stronger mobilisation of financial resources compared to traditional bureaucratic processes.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen carbon credit generation mechanisms while providing measurable climate benefits that can be verified under international standards.
Officials further noted that the project integrates environmental restoration, public health improvement, and economic empowerment into a single framework aimed at sustainable development.
By combining large-scale tree planting with clean cooking technology, the initiative seeks to transform rural energy use patterns and create long-term income opportunities linked to carbon markets.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that successful implementation in Benue could serve as a model for replication in other Nigerian states seeking to unlock climate finance and scale green investments.
