The Abia State Government has called on investors, development partners and business operators to take advantage of the state’s growing market for clean cooking solutions as part of efforts to address climate change, environmental degradation and public health risks.
The Commissioner for Environment, Abia State, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, made the call, on Tuesday, while declaring open a workshop on the Sustainable Clean Cooking Industry in Abia State, held at the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba.
The workshop was organised in conjunction with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Abia State Governor on Multi-lateral Donor Agencies, the International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED) and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.
Ogbonna said the workshop was coming at a critical time as climate change has continued to threaten economies, food systems, human security and development plans.
He said the initiative was inspired by the health, environmental and climate risks associated with traditional cooking methods, particularly the widespread dependence on firewood.
According to him, the continued use of firewood contributes to household air pollution, deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, posing serious challenges to public health, environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
The commissioner said the state government, under the administration of Governor Alex Otti, had undertaken several initiatives aimed at reducing climate vulnerabilities, strengthening environmental protection and promoting clean energy solutions.
He listed the initiatives to include the deployment of clean energy systems to power smart schools, health centres, transport terminals and government offices, as well as the boundary cleaning of some of the State’s forest reserves to strengthen forest protection and ecological restoration.
He also cited the implementation of erosion adaptation projects designed to strengthen communities against climate-related risks.
Ogbonna said Abia had further strengthened its climate governance framework through the development of the Abia State Climate Change Policy and Implementation Plan and the Off-Grid Renewable Energy Equipment Waste Management Policy.
He added that the state had enacted the Solar Off-Grid Energy Policy into law to support the expansion of renewable energy and improve access to sustainable power solutions.
Other interventions, he noted, include the rollout of electric mass transit buses and the delineation of two forest reserves for conversion into a National Park to promote biodiversity conservation, ecosystem protection and climate resilience.
The commissioner said the initiatives demonstrated the state government’s commitment to climate action and sustainable development. He explained that the clean cooking initiative was designed not only to contribute to Nigeria’s climate commitments but also to create new green economic opportunities for residents and businesses in the state.
Ogbonna commended ICEED for its collaboration with the state government during the development and launch of the Abia State Clean Cooking Plan and for continuing to support its implementation.
He also appreciated the Heinrich Böll Foundation for its support, while urging other development partners to explore the Aba market ecosystem as a platform for innovation and investment in climate solutions.
The commissioner described Abia as having significant potential for the development of a sustainable clean cooking industry, citing the state’s population, market opportunities, political will, industrial capacity and technical expertise.
He therefore urged participants and members of the business community to use the workshop to establish business-to-business partnerships, develop investment opportunities and collaborate in implementing the state’s Clean Cooking Plan.
He said such partnerships would contribute to safeguarding the environment and building a more sustainable future for the people of Abia State.
