Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are exploring the use of solar energy, after an impressive presentation on it by one of their own, President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, to their just-concluded summit in Sal, Cape Verde.
Consequently, they have tasked him to carry out the ground work on the matter.
In the meantime, the Nigerian chapter of the ECOWAS-backed West African Women Association (WAWA) has, after an interactive session on climate change, underlined the dangers of the phenomenon and proffered anti-dotes. In a special resolution by the mid-year summit, it ''mandates President Wade to (work) to realise the proposed (solar plants) for West Africa in order to ensure its self-sufficiency in clean and cheap solar energy''. The leaders also urged all member states to cooperate with the Senegalese leader to realise his dream of making West Africa self-sufficient in power through the massive use of solar energy. Specifically, the summit asked each member state to ''attach to him an engineer in solar energy, if possible, and a financial expert or accountant, with a view to establishing the Commission on Solar Energy that shall operate under his chairmanship and authority.'' Wade, who will work in close collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission on the issue, is expected to report back to the Heads of state and government on the progress he has made on the project. In his presentation, he stressed the need for African nations to establish solar power plants to take advantage of the abundance sunshine on the continent.
WAWA Nigeria Focal Person Mrs. Beatrice Obiageli Ubeku, in an opening address at the interactive session and official commissioning of its office inside the ECOWAS Liaison Complex, in Lagos called for concerted action against climate change.
The interactive workshop with theme: “Women Dialogue on Climate Change – Health and Socio-Economic Implications,” was opened by a representative of the President’s wife, Mrs. Patience Goodluck. Also present or represented on the occasion were the President of the African Round Table and Chairman NEPAD Group, Dr. Bamanga Tukur; Minister of Environment John Odey; his Women Affairs & Social Development counterpart, Iyom Josephine Anenih; the Chairman of EFCC; the Regional President/Co-ordinator of WAWA, Hon. Mrs. Khady Tall Fall; The Director, ECOWAS Commission Mr. Vossa Goudjo; the WAWA Rep, Africans in Diaspora), NGOs, WAWA (Nigeria Chapter) board of trustees chairperson, Mrs. Olatoyin Olakunri, Chief Dr. Opral Mason Benson, Chief Mrs. Pansy Olakanpo and Chief (Mrs.) Agnes Ojehomon as well as other officials and stakeholders.
According to Ubeku who is also the CEO, Women Care Association of Nigeria (WOCAN), “the dialogue couldn’t have been more relevant as global awareness is on the increase on the situation of our changing world due to natural and manmade disasters and effect on environment. As concerned women, we do not want to fold our arms until we are adversely affected in Nigeria we want to be involved at the community level mainstreaming to global efforts and solution. Women and children tend to suffer most during adverse situations as drought, famine, flood, earthquake, wars, migration and vulnerable to most communicable and non-communicable diseases.
“The current economic meltdown and structural financial adjustments is having its effect on individuals, families, households and the nations of the world as poverty increases burden of diseases as AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Cancers as poverty as it is estimated that 60 per cent of Nigerians live in rural areas.”
UNFPA Executive Director, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid noted that environment damage “is one of the most inequitable risks of our time”.
The carbon footprint of the poorest billion people on Earth is three per cent of the world’s total, yet it is the poor, especially poor women, who will bear the disproportionate brunt of climate change, she said.
Obaid added: “For many people, especially poor women in poor countries, climate change is here and now” she said. “Women work hard to keep their households together. They fetch the water, find the food and the fuel to cook it, and clean up afterwards. They watch their children’s health and care for their illness. In recent years, both food and fuel have been harder to find. The available water carries parasites. Malaria is creeping into areas that used to be mosquito – free; and flood, farm products are diminishing, rising seas and drought present growing challenges.
The report recommends that countries invest in green technology and reduce emissions, but says they should also empower women to make their own decisions and be involved in public decisions that affect their lives. Nations should invest in women by ensuring alternatives to wood and imported fuel; secure clean water supplies; better roads; access to education for girls; and access to health care, including reproductive health services, especially for women.
“Helping women to make their own decisions about family size would protect their health, make their lives easier, help put their countries on a sustainable path towards development – and ensure lower greenhouse – gas emissions in the long run.“
Odey in a goodwill message presented by the Ministry’s Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, underscored the precise role of women and children in the on-going climate change issue. She stressed the need for public awareness, in educating the populace on the causes and how to protect women and children from the sudden change of the climate.
Highlights of WAWA’s communiqué after the workshop were read by Chief Ubeku who said:
• We all agreed that climate change is caused naturally and due to negatives of mankind on environment;
• climate change has adverse effect on women and children as vulnerable group;
• there should be alternative source of energy to reduce green house emission by planting of trees;
• climate change affects the health of women and children through communicable and non-communicable diseases;
• that climate change has adverse socio-economic impact which increases poverty level;
• that there are policies on ground but not decentralised, not enforced;
• there must be partnership and network of all Stakeholders – Government, NGOs, CBOs and Civil Society Organisations / the Grassroots;
• media involvement-building capacity of the media to promote and enhance the advocacy on issues affecting our people through Climate Change;
• women must be involved in planning especially at grassroots level; and
• continuous capacity/empowerment programme for stakeholders.”
