Advocates for sustainable living have rallied behind clean cooking practices to improve both public health and environmental sustainability, following the latest edition of the NaijaCookWise campaign held in Abuja.
As detailed in a statement, the campaign—hosted by the climate and sustainability-focused group SustyVibes—gathered a diverse mix of stakeholders including policymakers, civil society groups, manufacturers, grassroots leaders, tech innovators, and youth changemakers. The goal: to push forward the adoption of safe, clean, and inclusive cooking technologies across Nigeria.
Addressing the audience, Sonia Ugwunna, Chief of Staff at SustyVibes, described the stakeholder engagement as “an essential step” in achieving the campaign’s vision of cleaner kitchens and healthier homes. She emphasized that the initiative represents a deep commitment to data-driven advocacy, participatory dialogue, and approaches that prioritize behavioral change.
“This campaign reflects our dedication to tackling the root causes of unhealthy cooking practices. It’s only through intentional partnerships and long-term planning that we can create a Nigeria where clean cooking is not a luxury but a norm,” Ugwunna remarked.
Throughout the conversation, participants repeatedly pointed to economic empowerment as a crucial factor in driving the shift to clean energy. They stressed the importance of focusing on marginalized communities—especially within the campaign’s target pilot states—to ensure equity and inclusivity in implementation.
Education also took center stage as a critical tool to raise awareness and close the knowledge gap around sustainable cooking options. Stakeholders called for continuous, youth-centered sensitization initiatives as key to fostering widespread change.
NaijaCookWise confirmed that the deliberations and insights from the dialogue would be consolidated into a formal communiqué. This document will be circulated to relevant institutions and agencies to guide policy and action steps moving forward.
At its core, the campaign aims to influence daily cooking habits by advocating a transition away from polluting fuels like firewood and charcoal. By promoting cleaner energy sources, the initiative seeks to mitigate harmful health effects and reduce environmental damage caused by traditional cooking methods.
