Dr. Onyeka Nwafor, Chief Executive Officer of Yennco World Trade Limited and delegate to the ECOWAS Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (Pi-CREF), has stated that increased access to clean energy is significantly improving women’s economic empowerment, healthcare delivery, and living conditions across Africa.
Speaking during the launch of the 2026 ECOWAS LPG Programme and high-level dialogue on clean cooking, gender equality, and child protection in Freetown, Dr. Nwafor noted that the transition to solar power, renewable energy, and clean cooking solutions is already transforming lives across West Africa.
According to him, clean energy adoption has reduced smoke inhalation, lowered respiratory illnesses, and improved maternal and child healthcare outcomes, particularly among women and children who are most exposed to harmful cooking emissions.
Dr. Nwafor also highlighted the economic benefits of clean energy access, explaining that it is supporting women-led businesses including hair salons, tailoring and fashion enterprises, agro-processing ventures, and phone charging and repair services.
He stressed the urgent need for stronger inclusion of African women in the continent’s clean energy transition, insisting that empowering women within the sector would unlock greater economic opportunities and improve overall living standards.
Also speaking at the event, Fatima Maada Bio described limited access to clean cooking solutions as both a public health crisis and a national emergency. She revealed that Sierra Leone’s school feeding programme, which serves more than 600,000 children, had previously depended heavily on biomass fuel.
Mrs. Bio announced the commencement of a pilot phase aimed at expanding access to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) across Sierra Leone to help schools and households transition to cleaner cooking systems and reduce exposure to harmful smoke emissions.
ALSO READ: AFRICA ACCELERATOR TARGETS $1BN FOR WOMEN-LED ENERGY PROJECTS
Julius Maada Bio disclosed that the government would distribute 10,000 clean cooking gas canisters to households under the initiative. He emphasized that women do not lack solutions but need stronger champions and increased participation as entrepreneurs and leaders within the clean energy value chain.
According to President Bio, more than 9.6 million people globally still lack access to clean cooking solutions, while toxic smoke from biomass and charcoal contributes to an estimated 3.7 million deaths annually, most involving women and children.
Rachel Ruto also stressed that Africa’s clean cooking movement must ensure that no woman cooks in toxic smoke and no forest disappears due to dependence on charcoal and firewood. She emphasized the importance of involving women as key stakeholders in shaping energy transition solutions that reflect local realities.
Meanwhile, Dymphna van der Lans said African First Ladies possess unique influence to drive partnerships and conversations around clean cooking, public health, and gender equality, while Damilola Ogunbiyi noted that empowering women in clean energy could significantly improve energy access, reduce emissions, and strengthen community resilience across Africa.
The programme received support from Economic Community of West African States, Clean Cooking Alliance, and the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (Pi-CREF).
