Sopuruchi Onwuka

The leading voice for gender equity in the energy sector, Women in Energy Network (WIEN) has entered partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to advance women’s economic participation and access to healthier clean energy for domestic application.

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Under the initiative supported by WIEN, the Minister, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has enunciated plans to establish Social Impact Fund to improve access to finance for female entrepreneurs, position Nigerian women as key contributors to national development and economic growth, and deepen the Ministry’s grassroots LPG penetration initiative.

Hajiya Sulaiman-Ibrahim who hosted a delegation of WIEN executives to her office in Abuja weekend restated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to women’s inclusion, including advocacy for at least 35% participation in public appointments and contracting opportunities.

In response to WIEN’s advocacy for women-owned businesses, the Minister explained that the Social Impact Fund is structured as a revolving financing model and designed to help women scale businesses, acquire assets, and strengthen their contribution to national development.

The Minister highlighted that her ministry’s grassroots LPG penetration initiative is aimed at transitioning more households across Nigeria to cleaner cooking fuels and sustainable energy solutions.

The WIEN delegation led by the President, Mrs Eyono Fatai-Wiliams, commended the Minister on her leadership in positioning Nigerian women as key contributors to national development and economic growth.

She emphasized WIEN’s conviction that inclusion must translate into measurable economic participation, leadership representation, access to capital, and business growth. She made it clear that Nigeria cannot achieve energy security and economic objectives while its female population remains underutilized.

WIEN welcomed the Ministers LPG initiative and pledged industry support to raise awareness, mobilize stakeholders, and strengthen access pathways for women, particularly in underserved communities.

The Network noted that clean cooking solutions are not only a public health priority but also a critical tool for women’s economic empowerment, enabling them to save time, reduce costs, and pursue income-generating activities.

It is on record that WIEN has long championed access to clean cooking and sustainable energy in Nigeria, implementing programs across multiple states to distribute LPG cookstoves, train women entrepreneurs in energy-based businesses, and promote awareness of environmental and health benefits of clean cooking.

These efforts, WIEN says, aim to ensure that women are both beneficiaries and leaders in the country’s clean energy transition.

The meeting also addressed social and economic development initiatives, with WIEN commending the Minister for her role in designating 2026 as the Year of the Family and Social Development. The Network emphasized that empowered households strengthen communities and contribute to national productivity and economic resilience.