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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Bridge That Gap Hope for Africa Initiative (BTG) is marking this year’s International Women’s Day by distributing energy-efficient cook stoves to women in vulnerable and climate-affected communities in Chikun, Zaria, and Zango Kataf local government areas of Kaduna State.
The intervention was a part of the Women Empowerment and Climate Resilience Initiative (WECRI), implemented by BTG under the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE) Programme, aimed at strengthening community resilience to climate change through locally-driven solutions.
The Executive Director of BTG, Ms Gloria Kassang Bulus, said the initiative focused on addressing the effects of desertification, promoting energy-efficient technologies and strengthening inclusive environmental governance and sustainable natural resource management.
According to her, women and vulnerable groups are central to the project because they are often the most affected by climate change, while also playing key roles in community adaptation strategies.
The distribution coincides with the celebration of International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8 to recognise women’s social, economic, cultural and political achievements and to advance gender equality.
BTG said the cook stove distribution aligns with the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, ‘Give to Gain’, noting that investing in women leads to healthier families, stronger communities and environmental sustainability.
The organisation explained that many women and girls in underserved communities spend significant time sourcing firewood and managing household energy needs, exposing them to health risks and environmental hazards.
It said the introduction of clean cook stoves would reduce indoor air pollution, lower household energy costs and cut charcoal use by more than 50 per cent, thereby helping to reduce tree felling and deforestation.
