By Abbas Nazil
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to distribute four million ECOCA Solar Electric Cookstove units to households nationwide under its Green Economy Empowerment 774 programme.
The agreement was formalised by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Esuabana Nko Asanye, on behalf of the Ministry led by Honourable Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, in partnership with Clean Sustainable Renewable Solutions Limited.
The initiative is designed to accelerate access to clean cooking solutions, reduce indoor air pollution and advance Nigeria’s climate commitments while promoting gender equality and economic inclusion.
According to the Ministry, indoor air pollution is responsible for an estimated 95,000 deaths annually in Nigeria, with women and children bearing the greatest burden due to prolonged exposure to smoke from traditional cooking methods.
Officials stated that the rollout of the ECOCA Solar Electric Cookstove will significantly reduce harmful emissions in homes, improve respiratory health outcomes and enhance overall household wellbeing.
Beyond health benefits, the programme is expected to ease the time and physical strain associated with firewood and charcoal use, enabling women to devote more time to education, entrepreneurship and other productive ventures.
Each cookstove unit is projected to offset approximately 4.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year, contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
The Ministry noted that the project aligns with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement and supports broader efforts to combat deforestation, environmental degradation and energy poverty.
Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasised that the clean cooking initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to integrating environmental sustainability with women’s empowerment and inclusive economic growth.
She stated that investing in renewable household energy solutions will not only protect vulnerable populations but also strengthen community resilience in the face of climate change.
The Ministry described the partnership as a strategic intervention under the GEE774 framework aimed at delivering sustainable development outcomes across all 774 Local Government Areas.
Stakeholders were urged to support the implementation process to ensure that the cookstoves reach intended beneficiaries and generate measurable health, environmental and socio-economic impact nationwide.
