The country Director, Solar sister Nigeria, Simbo Sojinrin has decried the poor access to cleaner energy in most rural communities in Nigeria and the attendant devastating impact on lives and livelihood of the people.
Sojinrin who spoke in Lagos at the opening of an energy summit said eradicating energy poverty in the country will require active participation of women who bear the brunt not just as clean energy consumers but also solution providers.
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A 2012 report by the international labour organisation revealed that household pollution from inefficient cooking technologies was responsible for about 4.3 million deaths, of which 60% were women.
With the global energy sector rapidly changing towards clean energy sources, the need to involve greater percentage of women in eradicating energy poverty particularly in rural communities has become imperative.
This gathering provides an opportunity for women who have so far been empowered to own green energy enterprises to share their experiences in the transition to greener energy for underserved communities.
About 100 women from 4 Nigerian states have in the last one year been empowered through the programme supported by the global environment facilities and implemented by the UNDP.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
