… Commends AFAN for Promoting Atmosfair’s Clean Cookstoves in Bayelsa
Chairman of Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Samuel Numenengi has called on government and public spirited individuals in the state to empower rural households with energy-efficient cookstoves, noting that energy-efficient cookstoves were crucial to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 7) – Affordable and Clean Energy.
Comrade Numenengi made the appeal after the women leader of the Bayelsa State chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), who is the immediate past Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on Special Duties, Hon. Ebimotimi Paulson Leghemo, made a demonstration of energy-efficient cookstoves in Yenagoa recently.
While applauding Governor Douye Diri for taking proactive actions to conserve the environment through his eco-friendly policies, geared towards achieving goals 7 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Numenengi thanked the deputy national President of AFAN, Mr. Confidence Mac-Eteli, an indigene of the state who doubles as south south coordinator, for the Atmosfair Save80 Clean Cookstoves project.
He reiterated that using energy-efficient cookstoves to empower rural households would ensure that rural communities have access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.
In his remark, the immediate past Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Tourism, who is also chairman of BRACED Tourism Promotion & Development Initiative (BTPDI) board, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, noted that widespread adoption of this energy-efficient cookstoves in rural communities would significantly reduce the adverse effects of greenhouse gas emissions in line with global best practices.
Dr. Kiyaramo said that incorporating Atmosfair Save80 Clean Cookstoves into existing ecotourism initiatives would further enhance tourism offerings, engaging travelers and residents in sustainable tourism practices, supporting local communities to showcase their products to enable visitors experience authentic cultural exchange, pointing out that the energy-efficient stoves emit fewer greenhouse gases, contributing less to climate change.
Earlier, the deputy national president of AFAN, Mr. Confidence Mac-Eteli had explained that the Atmosfair cookstoves were designed to reduce risk of burns, fires, and indoor air pollution, recording high productivity, saving time cooking food faster than ordinary cooking stoves in the market.
The AFAN State Women Leader, Hon. Ebimotimi Paulson Leghemo said that the Atmosfair Save80 Clean Cookstoves which are energy-efficient reduce fuel consumption, saving households money and time, just as she hinted on plans by the promoters to train persons to produce pellets to replace the use of charcoal with a view to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation.
Apart from cost saving, potential income generation, Hon. Paulson Leghemo said time saved from reduced cooking times could be allocated to other productive activities while cooking with the energy-efficient cookstoves, assuring that Atmosfair Save80 Clean Cookstoves would support sustainable energy consumption as they reduce the reliance on fossil fuels, helping communities to adapt to climate change and reduce vulnerability to fuel price volatility, promoting energy-efficient cookstove use in local communities.
On his part, the Director of South-South Regional Directorate of Agriculture and Empowerment of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Apostle Timiebi Kiyaramo lauded the energy-efficient cookstoves initiative just as he promised to introduce the Atmosfair Save80 Clean Cookstoves to churches in the region to empower rural households.
Also speaking, a Senior Special Assistant to the governor on New Media and consultant, Hon. Dave Asei emphasised the need to have a well articulated media strategy to disseminate information about energy-efficient cookstoves to ensure that every household in the state benefits from the product.
