By Abubakar Rabilu
The Yobe State Focal Person for UN Women, Ambassador Fatima Mohammed Paga, has commended the Yobe State Government for empowering women bean cake (akara) sellers through the distribution of energy-efficient cooking stoves and essential food items, describing the initiative as a significant boost to women’s economic empowerment and environmental sustainability.
The intervention, implemented by the Yobe State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Empowerment, provided beneficiaries with energy-efficient cooking stoves, bags of beans and cooking oil to enhance their businesses, reduce operating costs and improve household incomes.
In a statement made available to journalists, Paga praised Governor Mai Mala Buni for introducing what she described as a practical, people-focused programme that directly benefits women, who constitute a large proportion of small-scale food vendors across the state.
She said the initiative would not only improve the profitability of the beneficiaries’ businesses but also encourage the adoption of cleaner and more sustainable cooking technologies, while easing the financial burden on women entrepreneurs.
According to her, the programme underscores the state’s commitment to renewable energy, environmental protection and gender-inclusive economic development.
Paga noted that access to clean and energy-efficient cooking solutions enhances the productivity of women-owned enterprises, reduces dependence on traditional cooking fuels and contributes to healthier communities and greater climate resilience.
She added that strengthening women’s economic capacity translates into improved household incomes, sustainable livelihoods and accelerated progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to gender equality, poverty reduction, clean energy and climate action.
“The initiative demonstrates the Yobe State Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of women while addressing environmental challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions,” she said.
Paga urged the state government to sustain and expand programmes that promote women’s entrepreneurship, clean energy adoption and inclusive economic growth.
She reaffirmed UN Women’s commitment to supporting initiatives that create economic opportunities for women and advance sustainable development, stressing that sustained investment in women entrepreneurs would accelerate socio-economic growth and improve the quality of life of families across Yobe State.