The North East Development Commission (NEDC) in collaboration with Yobe State Government have engaged 50 women on climate change awareness, adaptation and alternative energy cooking.

The workshop took place at the lecture theatre of the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu.

Briefing newsmen on the Training NEDC State Focal Person/ Coordinator Dr Ali Ibrahim Abbas noted that the objective of the training was to mitigate and reduce the impact of climate change.

Abbas stressed that climate change is one of the causes of flooding that is ravaging many communities across the world, including Yobe State.

“At a very local level solution the NEDC is looking at training women especially those that are in our homes cooking our food to be able to use alternative energy sources which is the energy efficient stove that is provided to them.

” By so doing we hope it will reduce unnecessary cutting of trees, deforestation and what have you, and in a way this will mitigate the impact of climate change that is rare facing ourselves today” He said.

He said the first batch of the participants will serve as a pilot and if carefully sustained the use of energy efficient stove, more will be distributed to other women.

The Yobe State Commissioner of Environment, Hon Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa represented by Director Climate Change of the ministry, Muhammed Ahmed said the training is timely especially looking at the harmful effects of using firewood for cooking.

Also speaking, the Rector Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Dr Usman Kallamu charged the participants to give maximum attention to the lessons and implement what they learnt from the training.

Engr. Abubakar Janga the lead facilitator presented a paper on the Energy Efficient Stoves, while Dr Sani Muhammad and Engr Shamsu presented on Climate Change, Adaptation Strategies and Climate Change sensitization respectively.

Each participants went home with certificate and energy efficient cooking stove and token allowance.

Ibrahim Baba Saleh
Senior Special Assistant on Information.