By Oboh Linus, Abuja
Civil Society Groups and private sector have advocated collateral free financing models for women, including cooperative-based and inclusive financing schemes to increase women’s access to renewable energy investments.
The call contained in a communique signed by Mrs Ruth Tene and Kay Benjamin in Abuja at the end of the National policy dialogue on Increasing renewable energy investments for empowerment of women in sustainable agriculture and lithium Mining in West Africa.
The dialogue which was organised by Ziva Community Initiative, an NGO, with support from Africa Centre for Energy Policy had in attendance Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Public and Private Sectors, financial institutions and development partners.
The participants said women should not be seen merely as vulnerable groups but as central actors, innovators, and entrepreneurs capable of driving sustainable transformation within their communities if given necessary support.
They, therefore recommended that government should formulate and implement national and sub-national policies that provide microcredit facilities, grants, and incentives for women-led renewable energy enterprises to become key drivers in energy transition.
They urged government at all levels to establish structured training and capacity-building programmes to equip women with the technical and managerial skills required to access, deploy, and maintain renewable energy technologies.
“Absence of collateral-free credit; high illiteracy levels among women in rural communities,
cultural and religious barriers restricting women’s participation.
“Also limited access to land ownership, and under representation of women in leadership and policy decision-making positions are also contributory factors that limit rural women access to renewable energy.
“We also call for gender responsive, inclusion of women in leadership and decision-making positions across the renewable energy value chain, from policy formulation to project implementation,” the communique read in parts.
In her welcome address, Mrs Emily Offodile, Founding Director, Ziva Community Initiative, represented by Mr Samuel Pam, Programme Manager of the NGO appreciated participants who were drawn from selected states to lend their voices.
Offodile said the dialogue aimed to explore ways to increase renewable energy investment, empower women in sustainable agriculture, and promote responsible lithium mining practices in West Africa.
The National policy dialogue has the theme “Advancing Gender-Sensitive Renewable Energy – Expanding Women’s Participation, Adoption, and Leadership Across the Energy Value Chain in Nigeria.
The dialogue focused deliberation on strategies for women’s empowerment through renewable energy investments in agriculture and mining sectors in Nigeria and West Africa.
The event featured panel discussions, paper presentations, and interactive sessions that highlighted barriers and proposed practical pathways for enhancing gender-responsive energy access and leadership in Nigeria. (NAN)