SustyVibes launches clean cooking campaign for 1 million Nigerians

SustyVibes, a youth-led organisation making sustainability actionable and relatable for young Africans, has launched the Naija CookWise campaign to promote the adoption of cleaner cooking fuels among one million women and youth in Nigeria.

The campaign, supported by the Urban Movement Innovation Fund, aims to raise awareness of the dangers of traditional cooking methods, highlight the benefits of clean cooking fuels, and advocate for adopting cleaner cooking fuels in Nigeria.

“We believe that every Nigerian deserves to cook in a way that is safe for their health and good for the environment,” said Sonia Ugwunna, Head of Projects at SustyVibes.

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“With the Naija CookWise Campaign, we hope to inspire a shift towards cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable cooking practices across the country.”

Data gleaned from the National Bureau of Statistics in 2021 revealed that 68.3 per cent of Nigerian households rely on solid biomass such as wood and charcoal for cooking, while only 10.5per per cent usLiquefieded Petroleum Gas (LPG), and less than per cent use electricity.

These traditional methods not only contribute to severe respiratory illnesses; causing an estimated 95,300 deaths annually, but also accelerate deforestation and environmental degradation. Women and children are disproportionately affected, spending long hours gathering fuel and enduring harmful smoke exposure.

Read also: Global energy leaders move to strengthen clean energy transition in West Africa.

SustyVibes said the Naija CookWise campaign commenced with a pre-campaign survey to assess existing knowledge of clean cooking fuels. The campaign was formally launched on January 26, 2025, to coincide with the International Day of Clean Energy.

It stated: “This campaign will feature social media advocacy, using storytelling, infographics, and interactive challenges to dispel misconceptions and highlight the health and environmental benefits of clean cooking.

“To further educate urban and rural audiences on the co-benefits of clean cooking, the campaign will also include radio tours in Ibadan, Enugu, and Kaduna in Indigenous languages.

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“The campaign will culminate in a high-level stakeholder dialogue in April 2025, bringing together relevant government officials, researchers, manufacturers, and women’s groups to explore strategies for scaling clean cooking solutions nationwide.”

The Najia CookWisecampaign aligns with national efforts, including the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan (2022) and the recently approved National Clean Cooking Policy (2024), which aim to promote the widespread use of cleaner cooking fuels among Nigerian households and support Nigeria’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2060.

SustyVibes invites individuals, organisations, and policymakers to join the movement for cleaner cooking in Nigeria.