By Abubakar Rabilu
The Yobe State Focal Person for UN Women, Ambassador Fatima Mohammed Paga, has lauded the Yobe State Government for supporting women bean cake (akara) sellers with energy-efficient cooking stoves and food items, describing the initiative as a major step toward women’s economic empowerment and environmental sustainability.
The intervention, implemented through the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Empowerment, saw beneficiaries receive energy-efficient cooking stoves, bags of beans and cooking oil to strengthen their businesses and improve their incomes.
In a statement made available to journalists, Paga commended Governor Mai Mala Buni for introducing what she described as a practical, people-centred programme that directly supports women, who make up the majority of small-scale food vendors across the state.
She said the initiative would reduce production costs, increase profit margins and encourage the adoption of cleaner cooking technologies, while easing the financial burden on women entrepreneurs.
According to her, the programme reflects the state’s commitment to promoting renewable energy, protecting the environment and advancing gender-inclusive development.
Paga noted that access to clean and energy-efficient cooking solutions not only improves the productivity of women-owned businesses but also reduces dependence on traditional fuels, contributing to climate resilience and healthier communities.
She added that empowering women economically strengthens household incomes, creates sustainable livelihoods and supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those relating to gender equality, poverty reduction and climate action.
“The initiative demonstrates the Yobe State Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of women while addressing environmental challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions,” she said.
The UN Women focal person urged the state government to sustain similar programmes that promote women’s entrepreneurship, clean energy and inclusive economic growth.
She reaffirmed UN Women’s commitment to supporting initiatives that expand economic opportunities for women and advance sustainable development, stressing that continued investment in women entrepreneurs would accelerate socio-economic growth and improve the quality of life for families across Yobe State.
