Nigeria has taken a significant step toward large-scale climate action with the rollout of its ambitious plan to distribute 80 million clean cookstoves to households across the country.
The initiative, led by Greenplint Africa, is designed to reduce environmental degradation, promote sustainable energy use, and improve public health outcomes, particularly among women and children.
The project recently received a major boost following a partnership with a United Kingdom-based organisation, which has committed to procuring 24 million cookstoves to support nationwide distribution.
The agreement was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in the presence of key stakeholders in climate advocacy and government representatives, including officials from Lagos State Government.
Describing the initiative as transformative, the state government expressed strong backing, noting its potential to drive green job creation, stimulate economic growth, and diversify Nigeria’s revenue base beyond oil.
The manufacturing agreement marks a critical milestone for the programme, which was originally launched in October 2024.
According to the Group Chief Executive Officer of Greenplint Africa, Olawale Akinwumi, full-scale distribution of the cookstoves has now commenced.
He revealed that the programme aims to deliver at least two million cookstoves to each state, with implementation already underway in Lagos, Niger, and Benue states.
The initiative is also supported by international partners, strengthening its operational framework and scalability.
Further outlining the implementation plan, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Babatunde Aina, said the project will provide clean cookstoves valued at $320 each free of charge to households.
In addition, it includes the planting of hundreds of millions of economic trees across Nigeria’s senatorial districts to combat deforestation.
Aina added that the initiative will establish local factories and training academies, creating an estimated 3,000 permanent jobs per state, with a focus on youth and women employment.
Women participating in the programme are also expected to earn a steady monthly income over a 15-year period.
He noted that progress recorded so far includes secured funding commitments worth $7.5 million, pilot distributions in Lagos, and partnerships with global organisations such as UK Carbon Registry and other climate-focused institutions.
Highlighting the health implications, Aina explained that traditional cooking methods expose users to harmful smoke levels comparable to heavy cigarette consumption, contributing to respiratory diseases across Africa.
The clean cookstoves initiative aims to significantly reduce these risks.
Experts have also endorsed the programme.
A Professor from the University of Lagos described the project as timely, citing the increasing impact of climate change, including rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns across the country.
Similarly, environmental stakeholders, including a former General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, have called for broader participation to maximise the initiative’s impact.
Speaking on behalf of the state government, Titilayo Oshodi, Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment, describing the cookstoves value chain as a major opportunity for economic and environmental transformation.
The clean cookstoves project is a United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)-registered initiative, backed by a $1.5 billion carbon credit framework.
In addition to distributing 80 million energy-efficient stoves by 2030, the programme also includes plans to plant four billion trees nationwide.
With its combined focus on climate action, public health, and economic empowerment, the initiative positions Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s transition to a sustainable green economy.
Written by Innocent Onoh