Benue, Niger partner company on clean cookstoves project
GreenPlinth Africa Limited has signed Memoranda of Agreement with the Benue and Niger State governments for large-scale deployment of clean cookstoves aimed at accelerating decarbonisation, improving public health and creating
GreenPlinth Africa Limited has signed Memoranda of Agreement with the Benue and Niger State governments for large-scale deployment of clean cookstoves aimed at accelerating decarbonisation, improving public health and creating green jobs.
The agreements were sealed in Lagos at the Green Conference 2026 – Projects Implementation Retreat, themed: “Decarbonising Africa: Pathway to climate finance, sustainable growth and green economy.”
GreenPlinth Africa organised the event in collaboration with the National Council on Climate Change and the Office of the Vice President.
Group Chief Financial Officer of GreenPlinth, Babatunde Aina, described the initiative as a transformative intervention registered under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Global Climate Action Portal.
He said the project is designed to distribute highly efficient improved cookstoves free of charge to women, low-income earners and vulnerable households, drastically reducing reliance on traditional firewood.
Under the agreements, the company will deploy two million clean cookstoves each across the states at no cost to beneficiaries.
Each beneficiary, Aina said, will receive one stove, two stainless steel pots and 40 kilogrammes of briquettes produced from farm waste such as rice husks.
Beneficiaries are also expected to receive a monthly stipend of N10,000, while families of up to eight persons will be enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme free of charge.
Aina said the initiative would significantly improve indoor air quality, reduce respiratory illnesses and mitigate climate change through lower carbon emissions.
“Women are at the forefront of the hardships associated with firewood cooking. They face health challenges, spend long hours gathering wood and are exposed to risks in the forests.
“This project is about reversing decades of neglect and empowering women economically while protecting the environment,” he said.
Beyond cookstove distribution, GreenPlinth also plans to plant and nurture 100 million economic trees across the states.
The company said the tree-planting programme would help tackle poverty, hunger and disease, while laying the foundation for green, smart and sustainable communities in all local government areas.The project is expected to create green jobs for youths through skills acquisition programmes tied to stove production, briquette manufacturing and tree planting.
Director-General of the Benue State Council on Climate Change, Dr Daniel Mailumo, said the partnership would ensure that rural women transition from firewood to low-emission cooking solutions, aligning with the state’s net-zero emissions drive.
“This deployment will help protect our environment and improve the health of our people, especially women and children who are most affected by smoke from traditional cooking methods,” he said.
Those who signed for Niger are Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Abubakar Musa, and Director-General, Niger State Agency for Green Economy Initiatives, Dr. Daniel Habila Galadima.
Director, Northern Operations, GreenPlinth Africa, Alhaji Usman Besse and President/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Olawale Akinwumi, signed for the company.
Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Dr Teniye Majekodunmi, in the keynote address, emphasised Africa’s need to industrialise while pursuing decarbonisation.
He noted that Africa faces the dual challenge of achieving economic growth and aligning with global climate goals, arguing that the continent must pursue both simultaneously.
Majekodunmi highlighted Nigeria’s “energy mix” strategy, which integrates natural gas, renewables and emerging low-carbon technologies.
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He described gas as a critical transition fuel capable of reducing emissions by up to 50 per cent when replacing coal and heavy fuel oil, while providing stable power to support renewable energy expansion.
He said Nigeria recently rolled out a national framework to decarbonise the oil and gas value chain, including methane monitoring and emissions reduction mechanisms.
A representative of Dangote Industries, Dr James Adenuga, stressed the importance of climate finance and private-sector collaboration.
He said Nigeria’s carbon market framework signals seriousness about accessing affordable transition finance, adding that carbon pricing, blended finance and integrated gas-to-transport strategies are essential for industrial decarbonisation.
“Africa contributes the least to global emissions yet faces some of the highest capital costs for green investments. Decarbonisation is not just an environmental necessity; it is a competitive strategy for African industries,” Adenuga said.
Speakers at the conference called for actionable milestones and measurable targets beyond dialogue, as stakeholders pledged to align development priorities with climate responsibility.
With the agreements, GreenPlinth said implementation would begin immediately, positioning to the states as early beneficiaries of its clean energy rollout programme.
