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World Food Day: UK-backed AFEX celebrates 10 years of driving agricultural growth across Africa

Michael Simire
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World Food Day: UK-backed AFEX celebrates 10 years of driving agricultural growth across Africa

A leading commodities player in Africa, AFEX, with support from the UK Government, has announce significant achievements across Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Côte d’Ivoire, as it commemorates its 10th year reshaping the agriculture value chain in Africa, contributing to building sustainable food systems and creating lasting impact for farmers, agribusinesses, and communities.

AFEX
Group CEO, AFEX, Ayodeji Balogun at the AFEX farm in Modakeke, Osun State

Through their operations providing capital and storage infrastructure to farmers, processors and other parts of the value chain, AFEX is said to have remained steadfast in its mission to enhance food security, reduce post-harvest losses, and introduce liquidity into agricultural markets through efficient market structures.

Established in 2014 as the first private commodities exchange in Nigeria, AFEX has directly supported smallholder farmers by providing them with access to finance, high-value market opportunities, and crucial extension services. This has not only improved the livelihoods of these farmers but also enhanced their productivity and overall output.

Within the same period, AFEX has also grown its presence across the continent, expanding from Nigeria into Kenya, Uganda, and Côte d’Ivoire, and establishing regional commodity markets that facilitate cross-border trade while strengthening food systems throughout these regions.

In Nigeria, AFEX has expanded its farmer network to over 500,000 and traded over 1 million metric tons of essential crops such as maize, rice, sorghum, and soybeans. This trading volume has made a significant contribution to improving food availability and stability in its operational areas. Furthermore, through its financing platform, AFEX has injected over $250 million into agricultural value chains, ensuring that farmers have access to the capital they need to scale their production.

Since expanding into Kenya and Uganda in 2021 and 2022, AFEX has been bullish in the pursuit of their strategic Pan-African expansion goal to penetrate eight African countries in the next decade, promoting the efficient trade of commodities in Africa while supporting the AFCFTA’s objectives to boost regional trade integration on the continent.

Today, its East African operations have impacted over 30,000 farmers through financing and storage services, traded over 12,000 metric tonne and traded about KSH1,600,000,000. In its newest market, Côte d’Ivoire, announced at the beginning of 2024, AFEX has onboarded over a thousand farmers, and disbursed maize inputs across 155 hectares, boosting productivity and food self-sufficiency.

Commenting on the anniversary, the UK’s Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter, said: “The UK is proud to have provided early-stage funding to AFEX 10 years ago, and to see the company grow with such success, enhancing agricultural productivity and bolstering food security in Nigeria. The agricultural sector stands as a vital pillar to Nigeria’s economy, playing a significant role in job creation and investment potential.  We look forward to continuing to support Nigeria’s agriculture sector and the opportunities this provides for its economic growth.”

Group CEO, AFEX, Ayodeji Balogun, reflected on the company’s 10-year journey, stating: “These past 10 years have been about creating innovative solutions for African agriculture and developing sustainable ecosystems that empower farmers. As we mark this milestone on World Food Day, we are reminded that our mission is more critical than ever. Our goal is to continue building the infrastructure and platforms that will secure Africa’s food future.”

Speaking about British International Investment’s $26.5 million commitment to AFEX in 2023, Nigeria Coverage Director of the UK’s development finance institution (DFI), Mr. Benson Adenuga, said: “We are delighted to partner with AFEX to provide the necessary support to scale into a pan-African champion, driving agribusiness and strengthening food systems in multiple countries across the continent. Our commitment will support AFEX to construct 20 warehouses in strategic locations in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda, increasing storage capacity for up to 200,000 farmers and underlining our mandate to support ambitious businesses in Africa.”

According to the British High Commission, a key element of AFEX’s impact lies in its investment in infrastructure: “Over the past decade, the company has developed a robust network of more than 200 warehouses across Africa, providing secure storage for agricultural produce and reducing post-harvest losses by up to 30% in some regions.

“By reducing post-harvest losses and improving productivity, AFEX is playing a critical role in enhancing food security, addressing the challenges of climate change and promoting sustainable agricultural practices across Africa.

“This commitment mirrors the global call to action on World Food Day to ensure that food systems are inclusive, resilient, and capable of feeding future generations.”

Report showcases women-led solutions for building drought resilience

Michael Simire
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0
Report showcases women-led solutions for building drought resilience

Women and girls are not only experiencing greater hardships but are also demonstrating remarkable leadership in the face of drought, finds the new report by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

Women farmers
Women farmers

Launched on the International Day of Rural Women, the report, titled “Women-Led Solutions for Drought Resilience”, calls for better recognising and supporting women-led efforts to protect vulnerable communities from the devastating effects of drought. It also underscores that women’s land rights are crucial for achieving food security.

“Women have long been viewed as the most vulnerable to drought, but as this report reveals, they are also the most resilient, leading the way in developing solutions to one of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD.

Thiaw added: “The ingenuity and resourcefulness of women combatting drought around the world is boundless. Whether in the Africa’s Sahel region, in northern Kenya, in Iran, in Peru or in Morocco, women have proven their resilience and their ability to overcome the most inextricable conditions to keep their families thriving. Addressing gender inequality is not only about fairness – it is an opportunity to harness untapped potential in the fight against climate change.”

Gender inequalities and disproportionate impacts

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by drought due to persistent structural gender inequalities that limit their access to essential resources such as land, water, and financial services. These inequalities also place formidable workloads on women and girls. In many drought-impacted areas, women are primarily responsible for collecting water, often walking long distances, putting their health and safety at risk.

Moreover, they manage unpaid care work, such as caring for children and the elderly, which further complicates their ability to cope with drought and underscores the need for drought plans to take into account specific challenges faced by women.

Key findings: Women as drivers of global drought resilience

  1. Despite facing systemic barriers such as limited land ownership, women are developing innovative solutions that enable their communities to adapt to the increasingly harsh environmental conditions.
  2. Women’s role in food production: Women produce up to 80 per cent of the food in developing countries but own less than 20 per cent of the land globally. This disparity limits their access to resources such as credit and training and their ability to prepare for and recover from droughts exacerbating their vulnerability to climate change.
  3. Drought’s global impact: Droughts contribute to 15 per cent of disaster-related economic losses globally and are responsible for 85.8 per cent of livestock deaths. In rain-fed agricultural regions, drought threatens the livelihoods of women, who make up a significant portion of the agricultural labour force.
  4. Land degradation and poverty: Up to 40 per cent of the world’s land is degraded, affecting over 3.2 billion people. As a result of land degradation and drought many women, are forced to walk longer distances to access clean water and gather fuel wood for their families.
  5. Economic benefits of women’s land rights: Research shows that securing land rights for women improves household nutrition, increases spending on children’s education, and enhances overall economic conditions.

Women-led initiatives across the globe

The report features 35 case studies from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, showcasing women’s leadership in addressing drought resilience. From water conservation practices to climate-smart farming techniques, the examples illustrate how women are driving progress and building resilience to drought.

  • In Peru, pastoralist women combine modern and traditional knowledge to manage water resources using ecohydrological monitoring, ensuring year-round vegetation to support livestock and mitigate drought crises.
  • In India, women have developed rainwater collection systems during monsoons, securing water for crops during dry periods and safeguarding food production.
  • In Kyrgyzstan, women are restoring degraded land by cultivating medicinal herbs, creating both environmental recovery and sustainable income sources.

Looking ahead: Women’s leadership at COP16

The findings of “Women-Led Solutions for Drought Resilience” will inform the discussions at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) that will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2 to 23, 2024.

A key focus of UNCCD COP16, including its Gender Caucus, will be scaling up women-led initiatives and ensuring that gender-responsive strategies are at the heart of global drought resilience efforts.

Increased investment in these strategies will be critical for supporting communities in addressing the growing environmental challenges posed by desertification, land degradation and drought worldwide.

African Women’s Climate Assembly forges new pathway to climate action

Michael Simire
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African Women’s Climate Assembly forges new pathway to climate action

The coastal town of Saly in Senegal on October 2024 played host to two critical African climate justice convergences – the 2024 Women’s Climate Assembly (WCA) alongside the African People’s Counter COP (APCC). Both gatherings, happening in parallel, brought together a diverse group of activists, NGOs, leaders, and community women to address the urgent need for climate action in Africa.

Women's Climate Assembly (WCA)
Regional Women’s Climate Assembly (WCA) participants marching in Saly, Senegal

Under the banner, “African Women Rise to Defend their Lands, Oceans and Forests”, some 120 community women from across 12 countries in Central and West Africa met to discuss strategies of resistance against the intersecting crises affecting their communities and countries in the fight for climate justice, food sovereignty, the Right to Say NO to destructive big development and extractives projects displacing communities, calling for reparations and ending climate debt.

Led by a steering group of NGOs, community organisations and their allies including Lumière Synergie pour le Développement, Green Development Advocates, WoME Sierra Leone, Kebetkache Women and Development Resource Centre and WoMin African Alliance, the past two annual gatherings were held in Port Harcourt and Lagos, Nigeria. This third assembly from October 7 to 11, 2024, provided a crucial platform to foreground the voices of African women who are often invisibilised.

The women took centre stage in demanding action and justice for their communities.

The WCA focused on empowering and amplifying the voices of African women who are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change. Discussions and workshops centred around the role of women in climate action, the protection of indigenous lands and natural resources, and the importance of gender equality in addressing the climate crisis.

The Pan-African effort helped build a collective movement that addresses the needs of Africans who are most deeply impacted by rampant resource extraction and ecological degradation. With climate disasters happening more frequently on the continent it is African women particularly who are at the frontline of the climate crisis. The assembly focused on the role of African women as custodians in protecting and preserving the environment.

Through the week-long assembly of teach-ins, marches, field trips, Each One, Teach One sessions and more, participants had the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences, deepen their knowledge and build solidarity through their linked struggles. It was a radical space to support African women organisers, activists and communities in their local mobilisations and organising.

The assembly stressed the importance of women’s resistance and leadership in creating development alternatives to the capitalist economic model and the Global North’s rapacious thirst and global demand for Africa’s natural resources and mining for critical minerals like cobalt and lithium fuelling conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, oil pollution in the Niger Delta to forest and land grabs for monoculture farming in Cameroon and water sources being polluted.

Ndieme Ndong from Senegal said: “As Africans, I want us to think about the world in which we are living. All the wealth is coming from Africa. Gold is coming from Africa. Phosphate is coming from Africa. Oil is coming from Africa. Cobalt is coming from Africa.

“When foreigners come to our countries, they bribe away leaders, they bribe away chiefs, they bribe away governments. If we look at all the wealth in Europe, all the wealth that they are using in the factories and plants in Europe, everything is coming from Africa.”

They also called for the recognition of the vital role of African women in climate justice and the need for gender-responsive policies and actions. Ahead of the upcoming COP29 in Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22, Africa and African women’s voices must be heard for they are experiencing the brunt of the crisis in their daily lives.

Josiane Boyo from Cote d’Ivoire said: “In my village in Côte d’Ivoire, if we want to get outside of our community, we need a gate pass to explain why we are going out. When we are in our own village, you cannot move your goods freely. There are guards, uniformed men, always in yellow, who monitor movements on behalf of the palm oil company.

“A lot of women have been arrested and put in prison by these wicked multinationals just because they are picking fruits of the palm for themselves. This is OUR land. We had to do something. We had to fight for the liberation of these women. So, as women, we organised.”

As the world grapples with the devastating effects of climate change, the voices of African women are more critical than ever.

“The 2024 Women’s Climate Assembly has shown that when women come together, they can be a powerful force for change. African women are determined to make sure their demands and powerful organising in the fight against the climate crisis are heard and seen. Alongside the African People’s Counter COP, this annual assembly has set a precedent for future collaborations and united efforts towards a more just and sustainable future for Africa and the world,” submitted the event promoters.

According to them, the WCA and APCC’s joint gathering marks a significant step towards building a more inclusive and effective approach to climate action in Africa.

“African women are determined to make their voices heard and drive real change in the fight against climate change. Together, they are forging a new pathway to a sustainable future for all.”

Polaris Bank, NCF plant 500 economic trees in Gwagwalada

Michael Simire
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0
Polaris Bank, NCF plant 500 economic trees in Gwagwalada

Polaris Bank Limited and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) have planted no fewer than 500 economic trees at the Government Secondary School (GSS), Gwagwalada, as part of the bank’s land restoration initiative.

Tree planting
Polaris Bank and NCF tree planting

The Managing Director of the bank, Omokayode Lawal, said at the tree planting event in Abuja on Monday, October 14, 2024, that the bank was committed to sustainable practices and land restoration by planting economic trees nationwide.

Lawal, represented by Mr. Osazuwa Igbinoba, the bank’s Divisional Head, Abuja, said the initiative was borne out of the commemoration of World Environment Day celebrated in June.

The 2024 Environment Day focused on “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience,” which aligned with the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030).

He said the initiative was aimed at contributing to the restoration of degraded areas, the prevention of soil erosion, and the enhancement of overall environmental health.

According to him, our sustainability practices involve promoting responsible banking, empowering people and society, addressing environmental issues, and sustaining economic growth.

“We aim to ensure that every decision we make, from investments to operations, is guided by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Principles.

“The tree planting event today by our institution, Polaris Bank at Government Secondary School, Gwagwalada, FCT, exemplifies our commitment to these values.

“Additionally, by absorbing carbon-dioxide and helping to regulate the climate, trees play a crucial role in reducing overall carbon footprints.

“This tree-planting project is a testament to Polaris Bank’s dedication to environmental stewardship and community well-being, promoting a greener future through corporate responsibility,” he said.

Mohammed Boyi, the Zonal Coordinator, NCF, decried the persistent indiscriminate felling of trees across the country.

Boyi said that there were no corresponding efforts on tree planting to the felling.

He appealed to organisations to also imbibe tree planting culture to sustain the environment.

Boyi said the bank sponsored the purchase of no fewer than 500 seedlings of economic trees including mangoes, guava and berries, among others.

Hajia Fatima Babba, the Director, Core Curricular, FCT Secondary Education Board, said that trees were for proper ventilation, food and fruits and medicinal purposes.

Other benefits of trees according to Babba were production of raw materials, shade and wind breakers, among others.

She said that the school had nominated students who would nurture each of the trees to growth.

The Principal of GSS Gwagwalada, Mr. Victor Orifah, commended the bank for the initiative geared toward environmental conservation.

Orifah said the school would continue to nurture the seedlings as they grew.

The bank had through the initiative planted no fewer than 1,500 trees in schools across Ogun, Kano, Anambra and FCT.

By Ginika Okoye

Abuja Management Council gives AEPB 48-hour ultimatum to clean up city

Michael Simire
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0
Abuja Management Council gives AEPB 48-hour ultimatum to clean up city

The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) has given the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) a 48-hour ultimatum to clean up the federal capital city.

Felix Obuah
Coordinator of the AMMC, Chief Felix Obuah, giving the ultimatum

The Coordinator of the Council, Chief Felix Obuah, gave the ultimatum after an emergency meeting with management of the board and contractors handling refuse evacuation in Abuja on Monday.

The meeting was held after the coordinator inspected the state of refuse evacuation in Asokoro District.

Obuah expressed disappointment with the slow pace of refuse evacuation in the district, noting that the nation’s capital should be a model city for cleanliness across Nigeria.

He, thereafter, directed the Director of AEPB, Mr. Osi Braimah, to ensure that Asokoro was thoroughly cleaned within 48 hours.

He added that the efforts should be extended to other major districts, including Guzape, Maitama, Central Business District, Wuse, and other areas within the Abuja metropolis.

He also directed the director to immediately recall casual workers to accelerate the evacuation of refuse across the city.

“I am tired of receiving calls from residents complaining of how dirty the city has become.

“Today, I was forced to go round major areas of the city to assess the state of refuse collection and what I saw was an eyesore.

“I realised that the contractors engaged to clean the city are no longer doing their jobs and AEPB must do something about it,” he said.

He advised the companies to also within 48 hours, clean up their act, or face the wrath of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike whom, he said, was already displeased with the situation.

The coordinator pointed out that the beauty of any city largely depended on its cleanliness.

According to him, Abuja should not only be clean but should also set the benchmark for other cities in the country to follow.

Responding, Braimah assured the coordinator that the board would do as directed.

By Philip Yatai

Kogi calls for help as flood ravages 200 communities

Michael Simire
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0
Kogi calls for help as flood ravages 200 communities

The Kogi State Government on Monday, October 14, 2024, again called on the Federal Government and international donor agencies to come to its aid as flood sacked over 200 communities.

Kogi State
Flooding in Kogi State

Commissioner for Information, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, made call at Kotonkarfe during an inspection visit to communities affected within Kogi Local Government on Monday.

Fanwo said the distress call became imperative considering the fact that a major “humanitarian crisis is brewing in the state.

“Close to two million people are currently homeless in the 200 communities affected by flood in Kogi.

“As a government, we feel National Emergency Management Agency cannot afford to wait any longer since the state is already “overwhelmed.

“We are in a dire emergency situation at the moment, and this is sad.

“The flood disaster here is devastating and over 200 communities have already been submerged and close to two million people displaced.

“As we speak, nine of the 21 Local Government Areas in the state are affected which is almost 50 per cent of the number of Local Government Areas.

“We have opened about 68 IDP camps but they can’t hold that massive population. Schools, hospitals and other infrastructure have been destroyed completely.

“Seeing the aged and little children in this kind of distress is a horrible sight. We did not lose any life because we activated the early warning and enlightenment plan.

“We are expending huge resources daily, but it is inadequate. We call on the Federal Government, International Donor Agencies, NGOs and philanthropists to come to our aid.”

According to the commissioner, the state government had earlier set up a Flood Disaster Response Team under the leadership of the state Deputy Governor.

Fanwo, however, assured the victims of government’s support in the face of the natural disaster.

Lokoja, Adavi, Ofu, Ajaokuta, Idah and Ibaji are some of the affected Local Government Areas of the state.

By Thompson Yamput

Felabration: Environmental activist advises against felling of trees, poaching

Michael Simire
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Felabration: Environmental activist advises against felling of trees, poaching

An environmental activist, Desmond Majekodunmi, on Monday, October 14, 2024, advised Africans to desist from poaching and indiscriminate felling of trees to protect the climatic eco-system.

Felabration
Dignitaries during “The Fela Debates”, one of the activities for the 2024 edition of Felabration, in Lagos, on Monday

Majekodunmi, the founder of Lufasi Nature Park, made the call while speaking during the 2024 edition of “Fela Debates”, with the theme, “The Geopolitics of Africa and Climate Change”, in Lagos.

The programme is part of activities for “Felabration”, an annual music festival in memory and celebration of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

The music festival, with the theme, “Look and Laugh”, holds from Oct. 14 to Oct. 20.

Majekodunmi said illegal activities of poaching and felling of trees must be discontinued to protect the environment against manifestation of the effect of climate change.

He advised that, as against these activities, Africans should cultivate the habit of planting more trees and nurture the floral and fauna features the continent was endowed with.

He also advised on improved agricultural activities to mitigate the challenges of food security in the continent.

“As Africans, we should stop ripping off our life support systems.

“Nigeria was known as the highest producer of cassava in the world, Nigeria was the highest exporter of palm kernel in the 1950s, we were also the largest supplier of cocoa, groundnut, cashew and more.

“But we lost it all due to our consideration of profits, Nigeria relented in the production of these crops.

“How is it possible that the most intellectual creature to ever walk on the surface of the earth are destroying their own home,” he said.

Majekodunmi noted that the effects of climate change confronting Africans would not have been experienced if they had yielded to the warnings of late Kofi Annan, Former Secretary General of the United Nations, 20 years ago.

He noted that late Annan said: “The world is reaching a tipping point beyond which climate change may become irreversible.”

He urged the Nigerian government to look into addressing the problem of flooding which constantly caused damage to food crops.

According to him, curbing erosion must also be upscaled as this occurs mostly around the coastlines posing serious threat to the oceans and seas.

Also speaking, Mr Dele Faseemo, Group Head, Energy, Sterling Bank, said the way forward to combat the effect of climate change was for African governments to establish and enforce policies that encourage the adoption of renewable energy.

Faseemo, who was represented by Mr Oluwaseyi Okunuga, sector lead, Renewable Energy, Sterling Bank, noted that African governments must incentivise renewable investments.

He said this could be done by offering subsidies and low interest loans for businesses and households that invest in renewable energy technologies.

“Public-private partnerships can also be leveraged to finance large-scale solar, wind, and other clean energy projects.

“We should also develop and implement national adaptation plans that protect vulnerable communities from climate impact.

“This is by constructing mood defences, improving water management, and enhancing agricultural practices to cope with changing weather patterns.

“We can also adopt green technologies, businesses should integrate renewable energy solutions into their operations, similar to Sterling Bank’s solarisation initiative,” he said.

Mr Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive Officer, Oando Plc, reeled out the company’s achievements in trying to mitigate the effect of climate change.

Tinubu, who was represented by Ademola Ogunbanjo, Executive Vice President of Oando Clean Energy Ltd., said that Oando had started electric transportation within Lagos State, in partnership with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

He said this was to deliberately deal with carbon emissions which in turn pollutes the atmosphere.

He noted that to combat the effect of climate change, Africans must also come up with nature-based solutions, putting into consideration, collaborations.

“The need for energy transition is not government’s need but the people’s need, we all need to take deliberate steps in mitigating the effect of climate change.

“Our plan is to have 2,000 electric cars within Lagos before 2030 and 12,000 in Nigeria before 2030, this is our way of building the next downstream sector for mobility,” he said.

Mrs Titilayo Oshodi, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Climate Change and the Circular Economy, said the state chose to identify circular economy as the panacea to climate change which many had adopted without knowing.

Oshodi said that the circular economy was a vast one with huge socio-economic opportunities like: textile recycling, electric motorcycling, solar value chain, clean cooking, plastic recycling, plant-based proteins.

She advised Africans to engage in research and see what the nation could achieve exploring each aspect.

By Taiye Olayemi and Dele Eniola

With N5bn budgetary allocation, govt commits to Clean Cooking Policy implementation

Michael Simire
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0
With N5bn budgetary allocation, govt commits to Clean Cooking Policy implementation

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the commencement of the implementation of the National Clean Cooking Policy, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s commitment to sustainable energy and emissions reduction.

National Clean Cooking Forum
Delegates at the 2024 National Clean Cooking Forum in Abuja

Speaking at the 2024 National Clean Cooking Forum that held in Abuja from October 9 to 10, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister of Environment, underscored the government’s resolve to ensure that all Nigerians benefit from the initiative.

In his address, Lawal detailed the government’s progress, stating that the Ministry has established an implementation committee. He confirmed that efforts are underway to finalise the necessary activities, paving the way for concrete steps toward policy implementation.

He disclosed that the government has allocated N5 billion in the 2025 budget specifically for the execution of the policy. He reiterated the Federal Government’s support for clean cooking initiatives, recognising them as a crucial pathway to reducing emissions and achieving Nigeria’s target of net-zero emissions by 2060.

This year’s theme, “Clean Cooking Energy for All in Nigeria: Prioritizing Inclusion”, highlights the urgent need for equitable access to clean cooking solutions as part of Nigeria’s broader energy transition strategy. Despite advancements in promoting cleaner cooking technologies, recent trends indicate a concerning regression, with many households reverting to traditional polluting fuels. This reversal is largely driven by the rising costs of cleaner alternatives, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which has become increasingly unaffordable for a significant segment of the population.

Also addressing the forum, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs, represented by the Director of Women Affairs, pledged the Ministry’s support to expand clean cooking access for rural women. She highlighted the Ministry’s efforts in distributing clean cooking technologies to rural women across 21 states, including Ekiti, Kwara, Edo, and Bayelsa, reaffirming their commitment to safeguard rural women who are disproportionately affected by indoor air pollution.

Inga Stefanowicz, Team Lead for Green and Digital Economy representing the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, emphasised the importance of inclusive sustainable development. She noted that the theme of the 2024 Clean Cooking Forum aligns with the United Nations’ focus on gender inclusion and support for women-led businesses in the clean cooking sector, advocating for enhanced efforts to integrate gender perspectives in the energy transition.

Ewah Eleri, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cooking, emphasised the urgent need for the Clean Cooking Implementation Committee to expedite the rollout of the National Clean Cooking Policy.

He highlighted that substantial progress in expanding clean cooking access in Nigeria hinges on the decentralisation of actions, calling for a greater focus on state and local governments. Eleri further stressed the critical need for the Nigerian government to develop resilient, long-term financing strategies for the sector, advocating for a shift away from dependency on international development partners.

He noted that past efforts have been disproportionately centralised at the federal level, which has led to limited engagement and suboptimal outcomes at subnational levels. Recognising this gap, the Forum incorporated a dedicated session to analyse and address the structural and operational challenges encountered by state and local governments, aiming to enhance the effectiveness and reach of clean cooking initiatives across the country.

The 2024 National Clean Cooking Forum, held at the Abuja Intercontinental Hotel convened key stakeholders, including representatives from federal ministries and agencies, state governments, international development partners, stove and fuel producers, marketers, academia, and the media.

Firecrackers banned in Indian capital to combat air pollution

Michael Simire
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0
Firecrackers banned in Indian capital to combat air pollution

Indian on Monday, October 14, 2023, imposed a complete ban on the manufacturing, storage, sale and use of firecrackers in its capital until Jan. 1, 2025.

Air pollution
Air pollution in India

Delhi department of environment through an official order made the announcement in efforts to combat air pollution in the capital city.

“There will be a complete ban on all kinds of firecrackers on manufacturing, storage, selling (including delivery through online marketing platforms) and bursting of all kinds of firecrackers up to 01.01.2025 in the territory of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi,” said the order.

Delhi environment minister, Gopal Rai, urged local residents to support the government’s efforts to curb air pollution.

“In view of the increasing pollution in winter, a ban has been imposed on the production, storage, sale and use of firecrackers from today till Jan. 1.

“Delhi government issued instructions regarding the ban. Request for cooperation from all Delhiites.”

The department of environment has also directed police to implement the directions, Rai said.

This is the fifth consecutive year of the ban on firecrackers in the capital region.

The ban will remain effective during the Hindu festival of Diwali, which will be celebrated on Nov. 1.

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, will be celebrated next month. People in India usually set off firecrackers as part of celebrating the festival.

For the past several years, it has been observed immediately after Diwali night that a thick blanket of smoke engulfs the city and outskirts.

According to Rai, the air quality worsens because of the rampant bursting of firecrackers, which subsequently pushes air pollution levels to the “severe-plus emergency” category (above 500).

Authorities have been urging people to avoid bursting crackers on Diwali, an appeal that often gets ignored.

Indian capital city Delhi is among the topmost polluted cities in the world.

Industrial activities and vehicular traffic are significant contributors to air pollution in the city, along with rampant construction.

In past years, every year ahead of winter the air quality in Delhi becomes hazardous.

The situation often worsens due to the rise in emissions from stubble burning in neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana, which increases the concentration of prominent pollutants PM 2.5 and PM 10 in the air, much beyond the safety limits.

World’s 26 poorest nations in worst debt since 2006 – World Bank

Michael Simire
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0
World’s 26 poorest nations in worst debt since 2006 – World Bank

The World Bank says 26 poorest countries worldwide “are deeper in debt than at any other time since 2006,” while being increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters and other catastrophes.

Ajay Banga
Ajay Banga, World Bank President

In its analysis, the World Bank found that these 26 nations, which have an annual per capita income of less than $1,145 a year, “are poorer today on average than they were on the eve of Covid-19, even though the rest of the world has largely recovered.”

“Yet international aid as a share of their GDP (gross domestic product) has dwindled to a two-decade low, starving many of much-needed affordable financing,” the World Bank said in a press release.

According to the world bank, the 26 nations examined are home to some 40 per cent of the global population most affected by poverty.

It added that 22 of the 26 low-income countries listed are in Africa, plus Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and North Korea.

Government debt is now 72 per cent of economic output on average, the highest level recorded in 18 years.

According to the World Bank, the ability of low-income economies to obtain low-cost financing has largely been exhausted, making the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) “their single-largest source of low-cost financing from abroad.”

The IDA plays a key role in the fight against global poverty. It provides grants and nearly interest-free loans to the most vulnerable economies and is crucial for the 26 poorest of them, according to the World Bank.

The World Bank also noted that low-income economies are much more prone to natural disasters than other developing countries.

According to the report, natural disasters caused annual losses averaging two per cent of economic output between 2011 and 2023, five times higher than the average for low-middle-income countries.

The costs of adapting to climate change are also far higher for low-income economies.

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