The Cross River State Government has taken another bold step towards environmental sustainability and public health improvement with the flag-off of its Smokeless Cook Stoves and Wonder Cooking Pots Initiative in the state.
The programme, driven by the Green Economy Commission in partnership with the State Council on Climate Change and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), is designed to promote cleaner household energy, reduce deforestation, and directly empower women across the state.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Calabar, the State Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Hon. Oden Ewa, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Green Economy Commission, described the initiative as a practical expression of Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu’s ‘People’s First’ agenda.
“Today’s flag-off is not just about distributing stoves and pots, it is about protecting lives, reducing poverty and preserving our environment. The smokeless cook stoves and wonder pots we launch today provide a practical solution”, Ewa stated.
Commissioner Ewa noted that millions of Nigerian households still depend on fuelwood for cooking; a practice that poses serious health and environmental risks.
According to the World Health Organization statistics, indoor smoke causes tens of thousands of deaths each year, while deforestation continues to threaten the nation’s biodiversity particularly in Cross River State, which still holds more than half of Nigeria’s remaining primary forests.
Ewa further emphasized that the smokeless cook stoves and wonder pots would not only save fuel and reduce harmful emissions, but also lower household costs and relieve women of the drudgery associated with traditional cooking methods.
“Each stove and pot distributed today represents cleaner air, healthier families, empowered women and a greener future,” he said.
Hon. Ewa commended the wife of the governor, Her Excellency, Bishop Eyoawan Otu, for her steadfast support and advocacy for women’s welfare, describing her efforts as “a beacon of hope and an inspiration to all.”
According to the Commissioner, the initiative signals the Otu administration’s growing emphasis on climate conscious governance where environmental protection, innovation and social welfare intersect to define a sustainable future for Cross Riverians, by marrying human welfare with environmental sustainability.
