NEDC Tackles Climate Change With Energy-efficient Stoves

In a bid to tackle effects of climate change, the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in conjunction with the Borno State government at the weekend sensitised 300 vulnerable women in the six states of the North East on the use of energy efficient stoves for cooking.

Addressing participants at the sensitisation workshop at Lake Chad Research Institute in Maiduguri, the managing director of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali, said that the global climate change has emerged as a challenge faced by every nation in the world, adding that the Nigeria’s northeast exemplifies a typical extreme case of the country’s version of climate change, revealing in ecological imbalance accompanied with devastating consequences.

He said the workshop was to create awareness on the women about climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies for climate resilience.

Alkali added that the workshop was taking place simultaneously in all the northeastern states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Taraba, Yobe and Gombe, with 50 participants each.

“Adapting to life in a changing climate requires adjusting to actual or expected future climate.

“While mitigation is aimed at making the impacts of climate change less severe by preventing or reducing the emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, communities and individuals can adapt to climate change by preparing for longer, more intense fire seasons, prepare for the challenge of sea-level or water rise, protect farms and food supply from climate impacts, and help protect air quality in their environment.

“Prior to this, the NEDC has organised similar training on “Efficient Waste Management Practice and A-Z of Recycling” and “ICT-Based Entrepreneurial Skills on Digital Vehicular Diagnostic and Maintenance (DVDM) in the North East,” the NEDC boss said.

Resource persons at the workshop, Hajiya Falmata Mustapha, a Director Administration, and Mrs Aisha Buba who is the Principal Research Officer at the Lake Chad Research Institute Maiduguri presented papers on ‘Climate Change Sensitization and Adaptation and the Use of Energy Efficient Stoves’ throughout the sessions.

Hajiya Mustapha said, the women were sensitised on effects of climate change and the use of energy-efficient stoves.

She said the participants would be provided with efficient stoves and packages, adding that the charcoal stoves were designed with 43 percent thermal efficiency.

The director urged the Borno government and other stakeholders to work towards enhancing access to energy-efficient stoves to control environmental pollution and deforestation.

Some of the beneficiaries, Mrs Talatu Dibal from Borno State Ministry of Environment, Maryam Zarma  from Jiddari Polo ward  of Maiduguri  metropolis, and Hadiza Mustapha lauded the gesture, adding that it had exposed them to understanding dangers associated with the use of firewood, cooking gas and how to mitigate its impact on the environment.

Participants were presented with certificates of attendance, one energy efficient stove each and a stipend for transportation.