A clean energy transition in Adamawa State is gaining momentum as the International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED), in partnership with the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), expands access to clean cooking solutions while creating income opportunities for women and youth.
The initiative, being implemented in Yola and surrounding communities, is addressing the widespread reliance on firewood and traditional cooking methods – an issue that affects approximately 89.9% of households, according to the National Bureau of Statistics – and is closely linked to serious health risks and environmental degradation.
Under the programme, over 100 beneficiaries have been trained in the production of fuel-efficient cookstoves and biomass briquettes, equipping them with practical skills to support both household energy needs and emerging entrepreneurs in the clean energy value chain.
“This initiative is not just about cooking – it is about livelihoods,” said Mrs. Hadiza Yahaya – ICEED Focal Person Adamawa State. “We are equipping people with skills that allow them contribute to climate mitigation, support their families, and contribute to their communities.”
“Before now, we depended on firewood, which is stressful and expensive,” Gladys Stephen – a beneficiary of the initiative noted. “Now, we can produce these stoves ourselves and even sell them to make money.”
Beyond skills training, participants received business development support, market linkages, and startup grants to establish small-scale enterprises – an approach stakeholders describe as critical to ensuring sustainability.
Experts say clean cookstoves significantly reduce indoor air pollution, a major health risk affecting women and children, while also cutting down pressure on forest resources.
“The benefits of this initiative go beyond the environment, this is about agriculture, health, dignity, and economic empowerment, especially for women.” said Yohanna Moses, Principal Special Adviser to the Adamawa State Governor.
To consolidate progress and strengthen collaboration, ICEED convened a lesson-sharing workshop on March 16, 2026, in Yola, bringing together government officials, development partners, and implementing agencies.
The session reviewed key achievements, highlighted implementation challenges, and explored opportunities for scaling clean cooking interventions across the state.
“We must move from isolated projects to wider adoption,” said Engr. Ajayi Esther from Ministry of Rural Infrastructure and Community Development. “Clean cooking is essential for our people, and partnerships like this are key to achieving that.”
Participants at the workshop emphasized the need for sustained partnerships and policy support, increased investment, and continued collaboration to deepen adoption of clean energy technologies and expand livelihood opportunities for vulnerable populations.
Participants at the workshop also put forward key recommendations to accelerate progress, including the need to integrate clean cooking into state-level energy, environmental and peacebuilding policies, scale up community-driven distribution models, and expand access to financing through subsidies, carbon finance and microcredit schemes. They further stressed the importance of embedding clean cooking initiatives within broader livelihood and humanitarian programmes to ensure long-term sustainability and wider impact.
ICEED reaffirmed its commitment to deepening its partnership with CAFOD and the Adamawa State Government to drive inclusive development, noting that empowering communities with sustainable energy solutions remains central to its mission.