The Federal Government plans to transition one million households from firewood-based cooking to clean energy, Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim announced Friday in Abuja during a citizens’ engagement marking her 100 days in office.
She said the initiative is part of efforts to promote gender-responsive climate action.
She noted that women are at the forefront of climate change impacts and are advocating for their inclusion in adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim added that Nigeria’s participation at COP29 in Azerbaijan provided a platform to engage the international community on gender-responsive climate action.
“In this regard, we are working to transition one million households from firewood-based cooking to clean and sustainable energy solutions,” she said.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the ministry aims to economically empower 10 million women by 2027, ensuring their active role in Nigeria’s economic transformation.
She emphasized that this effort is part of broader reforms to uplift, protect, and empower women, girls, and vulnerable groups.
“This aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion economy, where women are key contributors to national productivity,” she said.
The Minister mentioned the implementation of the World Bank-supported Nigeria for Women Scale-Up Project, targeting 4.5 million women across all 36 states and the FCT.
She said the initiative will equip women with financial literacy, business development skills, and cooperative structures to support sustainable enterprises and drive economic growth.
She stated that the MOWA-SARA Accelerated Skills Acquisition Programme, in partnership with WEMA Bank, will train 500,000 women in vocational skills, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion.
“The first phase of the programme is currently underway in Kano State with 2,500 women being trained at the Ministry of Women Affairs Centre in Dederi and the Kano Hospitality & Tourism Institute in Gyadi-Gyadi.
“Also, to further strengthen access to finance, the ministry is working on setting up a National Microfinance Framework for Women Entrepreneurs.
“This initiative aims to bridge the financing gap for women, ensuring they have affordable credit, investment opportunities, and gender-responsive financial services.
“This will help them to grow their businesses and contribute more effectively to national development,” the minister said.
