By Abubakar Rabilu
The Yobe State Focal Person for UN Women, Ambassador Fatima Mohammed Paga, has commended the Yobe State Government for supporting bean cake (akara) sellers with energy-efficient cooking stoves and food items, describing the initiative as a significant step towards women’s economic empowerment and environmental sustainability.
The intervention, implemented through the Yobe State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Empowerment, provided beneficiaries with energy-efficient cooking stoves, bags of beans and cooking oil to support and expand their businesses.
In a statement issued to journalists, Paga praised Governor Mai Mala Buni for what she described as a practical, people-centred initiative aimed at improving the livelihoods of women, who make up the majority of small-scale food vendors across the state.
She said the programme would help reduce production costs for beneficiaries while encouraging the adoption of cleaner, more energy-efficient cooking technologies.
According to her, the intervention aligns with the principles of climate-responsive and gender-inclusive governance by promoting clean energy, reducing reliance on traditional cooking methods and creating sustainable economic opportunities for women.
Paga noted that empowering women-owned businesses strengthens household incomes, enhances community resilience and contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She added that the initiative demonstrates the Yobe State Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable groups while addressing environmental challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions.
The UN Women focal person expressed appreciation to the state government for the intervention and urged it to sustain policies and programmes that promote women’s empowerment, clean energy and inclusive economic growth.
She stressed that continued investment in women entrepreneurs would not only improve living standards but also accelerate socio-economic development across Yobe State.
