Nigeria calls for inclusive energy revolution to empower women, girls through Sport at UN CSW70

Reiterates commitment to bridging the gender-energy gap

By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, New York

At the 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York, Nigeria urged the global community to prioritize women and girls in the energy transition, linking clean energy access to empowerment through sport and community development.

Speaking at the side event “Catalysing Energy Justice: Energising Communities Through Girls/Women and Sport,” Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires to the United Nations, Syndoph Endonni, stressed that equitable energy access is essential not only for powering communities but also for unlocking human potential.

“Energy is far more than a commodity,” Ambassador Endonni stated. “It is an enabler of dignity, opportunity, and human progress.”

He highlighted how millions of women and girls worldwide suffer from energy poverty, which limits education, economic participation, health, and wellbeing. He called for an inclusive global energy transformation that centers their leadership, needs, and aspirations.

“Energy access and energy justice are deeply gendered issues,” he added. “We must ensure that energy transitions are inclusive, equitable, and responsive.”

Ambassador Endonni also emphasized sport’s transformative power for empowerment and social cohesion. He noted that clean energy-powered sports infrastructure can become multifunctional hubs for learning, innovation, and community development.

“When women and girls actively participate in sport, they build confidence, leadership, and resilience,” he said. “When powered by clean energy, sports facilities become catalysts for inclusive development.”

Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to closing the gender-energy gap, he framed the energy transition as “an opportunity to build resilient industries driven by innovation, clean technologies, and the potential of our youth.”

He concluded by calling for stronger collaboration among governments, civil society, and the private sector. “Let this dialogue inspire partnerships that ensure energy justice truly energises communities,” he urged.

Keynote from Her Excellency Lady Tee Thompson, a women and youth development expert, emphasized energy’s role as a key driver of national progress.

The event—organized by DoTheDream Youth Development Initiative (DoTheDream YDI), co-hosted by the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations, and supported by other partners—highlighted the urgent need to address energy access disparities in the Global South.

L–R: Emilie McGlone, Director at Peace Boat; officials of Oyo State; Rui Daz, President, AI International Association; Rebecca Irby, Founder, PEAC Institute; H.E. Lady Tee Thompson; Ambassador Syndoph Endonni, Charge d’Affaires, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN; Adebusuyi Olutayo Olumadewa, Lead Strategist, Girls in Energy; Dr. Omopeju Afanu, Co-Chair, GWG Girls in Energy; Prof. Cynthia Obiorah, Founder, Hope Aglow Foundation; Guy Djoken, Chair, U.S. National Commission of UNESCO Clubs; and Ola Oluyinka, Co-founder, Girls in Energy, at the side event, “Catalysing Energy Justice, Energising Communities Through Girls/Women and Sport,” on the sidelines of CSW70 at the UN Headquarters, New York.

DoTheDream YDI’s Co-Chair of the CSW70 Planning Committee, Omopeju Afanu, and Founder/Lead Strategist of the Girls in Energy (GiE) Project, Adebusuyi Olutayo Olumadewa, explained that energy access gaps in developing regions go beyond infrastructure. “They represent structural barriers to education, healthcare, women’s economic participation, safety, and digital inclusion,” they stated. They showcased the GiE Project as a scalable, investment-ready model integrating clean energy with economic empowerment, education, healthcare resilience, and sport-driven community mobilization.

The convening doubled as a high-level platform to mobilize USD 20 million from governments, development finance institutions, private sector leaders, foundations, and philanthropists. It leveraged sport’s global appeal to boost visibility, build trust, and secure commitments.

“This platform positions women and girls not as beneficiaries, but as catalysts of energy justice—leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and drivers of sustainable adoption and accountability,” the organizers stated. “When girls light pathways to energy justice, communities ignite with possibility.”

The event featured two high-level panels. The first, moderated by Dr. Afanu, addressed “Energising Communities: Energy Justice as a Development Accelerator,” with contributions from Cynthia Obiorah, Shameka Littles, Guy Djoken, and Rui Dai.

The second, moderated by Rebecca Irby, explored “Sport as a Catalyst for Accelerating the Girls in Energy Project,” featuring US Rugby Foundation Hall of Fame Phandira Knight, Sarah Noet, Aaron Ableman, Peter Young, and Emilie McGlone.

A dedicated session on the GiE initiative was moderated by Ola Oluyinka -co founder GIE on inclusion as economy by Joy Osomiamhe-O, Regional Manager Africa for the World Energy Council, alongside Rehana Mohammed, models instituional role, funding driving, mission for reality and local actions in achieving Girls in Energy Project.

Overall, the discussions reinforced a global imperative: advancing inclusive energy systems that empower women and girls while driving sustainable community .