The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has entered into two major Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at empowering 10,000 Nigerian women and vulnerable groups with electric tricycles and supplying four million solar-powered electric cookstoves across the country. The initiative is designed to boost green employment, promote gender inclusion, and support Nigeria’s climate commitments.

The agreements fall under the Green Economy Empowerment 774 (GEE774) programme, which covers all 774 local government areas nationwide. Permanent Secretary, Esuabana Asanye, signed the first MoU on behalf of Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim with Sparrow Mobility Limited, represented by its Director of Sales, Adeniyi Ologunleko.

The partnership will provide electric three-wheeler tricycles — including eight-passenger models and rice milling variants — to serve commercial purposes and create income-generating opportunities.

According to the minister, the project aligns with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and supports the country’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. She noted that adopting electric mobility would significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions while promoting a healthier environment.

She further stressed that the initiative goes beyond transportation, describing it as a pathway to entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic inclusion for women, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

In a separate agreement, Mrs Asanye also signed an MoU with Clean Sustainable Renewable Solutions Limited for the distribution of four million solar electric cookstoves nationwide. The project aims to reduce indoor air pollution — a major health hazard responsible for approximately 95,000 deaths annually in Nigeria, particularly among women and children — and cut carbon emissions by an estimated 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ per unit each year.

Highlighting the broader impact, the minister explained that cleaner cooking solutions would ease the health and time burdens associated with traditional cooking methods, enabling women to pursue education and income-generating activities.

She reaffirmed that empowering women remains central to national development, describing them as vital drivers of sustainable transformation within communities.