Lagos Nigeria, SustyVibes, a youth-led organization dedicated to making sustainability actionable and relatable for young Africans, has launched the Naija CookWise Campaign to promote the adoption of cleaner cooking fuels among one million women and youth across Nigeria.
Supported by the Urban Movement Innovation Fund, the campaign seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of traditional cooking methods, this was revealed through a press statement signed on Monday by the organization.
The statement highlighted the benefits of clean cooking fuels, and advocate for a widespread transition to safer, more sustainable cooking solutions.
The Urgency for Clean Cooking Solutions
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (2021), 68.3% of Nigerian households still rely on solid biomass like firewood and charcoal for cooking, while only 10.5% use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and less than 1% use electricity.
These traditional cooking methods are not only a major health hazard linked to an estimated 95,300 deaths annually from respiratory illnesses but also contribute to deforestation and environmental degradation. Women and children are disproportionately affected, spending long hours gathering fuel and facing constant exposure to harmful smoke.
Campaign Activities and Goals
The Naija CookWise Campaign officially launched on January 26, 2025, aligning with the International Day of Clean Energy. It builds on a pre-campaign survey assessing public knowledge of clean cooking fuels and will use engaging social media advocacy including storytelling, infographics, and interactive challenges to debunk myths and emphasize the health and environmental benefits of clean cooking.
To reach both urban and rural communities, the campaign will conduct radio tours in Ibadan, Enugu, and Kaduna, delivering messages in indigenous languages. The initiative will culminate in a high-level stakeholder dialogue in April 2025, bringing together government officials, researchers, manufacturers, and women’s groups to discuss strategies for scaling clean cooking solutions nationwide.
Supporting Nigeria’s Clean Energy Transition
The Naija CookWise Campaign aligns with Nigeria’s broader sustainability goals, including the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan (2022) and the recently approved National Clean Cooking Policy (2024), both of which promote the widespread adoption of cleaner cooking fuels and support the country’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
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“We believe every Nigerian deserves to cook in a way that is safe for their health and good for the environment,” said Sonia Ugwunna, Head of Projects at SustyVibes. “Through the Naija CookWise Campaign, we aim to inspire a shift towards cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable cooking practices across the country.”
Join the Movement
SustyVibes invites individuals, organizations, and policymakers to support the transition to cleaner cooking in Nigeria. To participate, fill out the pre-campaign survey, follow the campaign on social media @sustyvibes with the hashtag #NaijaCookWiseCampaign, or visit www.sustyvibes.org for more information.
