ABUJA – June 5, 2018
On World Environment Day, 5th of June, 2018, the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED) and Heinrich Boell Foundation will be launching a music video with the title “No Smoke” at Nordic Hotel, Mabushi, Abuja at 6.pm.
The song in the music video is rendered by the duo, Tai n Kenny, in support of clean cooking solutions especially for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East Nigeria. It highlights the health hazards and sufferings of millions of people (especially women) cooking with open fire using firewood. About 95% of IDPs, host communities and returnees in the Northeast depends on firewood and charcoal for cooking and 85% of these households face protection risks when collecting firewood. Women and the girl child walk long distances and spend hours a week in search of firewood. This also contributes to deforestation and the effects of climate change.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, 609 million cook over an open fire and in Nigeria alone, smoke from the open fire causes more than 95,000 deaths annually. After malaria and HIV/Aids, this is the third highest killer, most of women and children.
Clean cooking saves lives, empowers women, improves livelihood and combats climate change. It is a priority area in energy access that is central in achieving the goals of the country’s commitment to mitigate as well as adapt to the effects of climate change. Cooking should not kill and clean cooking energy for all is not only possible but a right for our citizens.
Key UN agencies and organisations like FAO, World Food Programme, UNHCR, ICEED and other Safe Access to Fuels and Energy (SAFE) Nigeria partners are facilitating a coordinated and effective response to the fuel and energy needs of crisis-affected communities in Northeast Nigeria.
This music video will play an important role in raising awareness about the need for clean cooking among policy makers and private sector as well as can to contribute to behavioural change in how we cook. It is widely recognised that the medium of music video is quite a powerful tool and it can bring different minds altogether on the same page.
Expected participants at the Launch are: the Office of the Senate President, Senate Committee on Environment, Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs) and the Federal Ministry of Environment. In addition, representatives of IDPs, government agencies, international development partners, humanitarian agencies, the media and Non-Governmental Organisations as well as individuals working to address the energy needs of vulnerable groups especially in the Northeast are expected to attend the event.