Group launches women entrepreneurship project in Gombe
Solar Sister Nigeria supported by Mercy Corps feed the future rural resilience Activity has launch a women’s clean energy entrepreneurship project in Gombe.
The project which is targeting one hundred and sixty women in funakaye, Akko and Billiri Local Government Areas of Gombe state is to empower women to be entrepreneurs so as to meet their needs that of their family members.
In an address during the project launch in Gombe, the Country Director of Solar Sister Olasimbo Sojirin said the project focuses women because most energy used at home affects women hence the need to provide them with clean energy technology products to prevent them from smoke and fumes.
She said climate change is caused as a result of fumes and smokes emanating from practices such as cooking with firewood adding that the clean energy product which will be given to the women as starter Packs to commence business is to also enhance their livelihood.
The country Director said Solar Sister Nigeria is a gender-based social enterprise provides women with economic opportunity, training, and support to distribute clean energy to underserved communities in Nigeria.
The overseeing Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youths Alhaji Mohammed Kolo Bajoga appreciated Mercy Corps and solar sister for bringing the project in Gombe saying it is inline with Governor Inuwa Yahaya policy of empowering women and youths.
He said the ministry is ever ready for partnership to better lots of people in the state.
Also the Director Women Affairs Mrs Hauwa Patrick appreciated the choice of women as beneficiaries saying when women are empowered the rate of poverty will reduce.
Also the acting Director energy resources of the ministry of Energy and Mineral.Resources Danladi Musa Waziri and the village head of Tambe Ahmadu John Ahmadu advised the beneficiaries to be financial disciplined in doing business so as to become great business women.
In their responses, some of the beneficiaries Mrs Comfort Tangus and Hajiya Hauwa Ahmed expressed gratitude to the organisers for empowering them saying initially they thought it was scam but have now known that it is meant to make them entrepreneurs by buying and selling the clean energy products.
Solar Sister provides women with economic opportunity,training,technology and support to distribute clean energy to underserved communities.
The partnership between Solar Sister Nigeria and the‘Feed the Future Rural Resilience Activity’ partnership ,implemented by Mercy Corps is to promote the sustainable livelihood of 300 vulnerable women across Adamawa and Gombe State to stimulate a clean energy market, increase access in identified underserved communities within North-East Nigeria, and promote a shift in high-risk environmental behaviors such as the use of firewood.
Increase women’s agency and gender equity by supporting woman-to-woman, and peer-to-peer networking systems amongst the 300 identified clean energy entrepreneurs, and scale up successful experiences through data evaluation, project impact.
