To invest in our planet, Nigeria requires sustainable partnerships – CSDevNet Chair

Dr Ibrahim Choji, the Board Chair, Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet) who joined the rest of the world in marking Earth Day 2022 says Nigeria requires sustainable partnership to invest in the planet and save its habitats.
Choji noted that climate change impacts are about heat, increased and scorching temperatures, variable and extreme rains which have direct correlation with what becomes of the planet, and its habitats.
“Therefore, investing in Renewable Energy, Clean Transportation, Food and Agriculture Innovation, Nature-based Solutions, Indigenous communities, Peace, and more importantly, investing in Girls and Women are more sure and noble way of saving our planet.
“According to World Health Organization, `over 98,000 of Nigerian women die annually from the use of firewood. If a woman cooks breakfast, lunch and dinner, it is equivalent to smoking between three and 20 packets of cigarettes a day.
“It is also believed that in Sub-Saharan Africa, investing in women and girl education, health and economic opportunities is fundamental to realizing the continent’s human capital potential and spurring sustainable economic growth’’.
He said that providing women and girls with clean and efficient energy will preserve lives, increase opportunity, increase productivity while reducing our carbon emissions.
“So for such investment to be effective, indigenous communities or rural women should be the focus, as they constitute a vast majority of this population.
“CSDevNet believes that people-centered, effective, public and private partnership, backed by International support are required to deliver this expectation.”