In a bid to tackle climate change while economically empowering rural women, the Ogun State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development with support from the World Bank, has commissioned the country's first methane reduction hybrid learning hub in Iworo, Ijebu North-East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The hub launched by the Nigeria For Women Project Scale-Up, NFWP-SU, is designed to equip women with hands-on skills in converting waste to wealth including production of biochar, compost and briquettes.
In her address, the National Coordinator, Mrs Maina Adiza, called for sustained stakeholder collaboration to ensure the hub's long-term sustainability.
She said the centre will not only train women in waste management but also link them to mentorship, business support and market opportunities to turn skills into sustainable income.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Olufunsho Obienu, described the hub as an expansion of the existing women empowerment project, combining physical training with an e-learning platform for wider coverage.
According to her, the initiative will help reduce the health and environmental dangers of traditional cooking fuels.
"By transitioning from charcoal to biochar and briquettes, women can protect their families from dangerous carbon monoxide exposure while establishing a viable, income-generating enterprise," she said.
She disclosed that the ministry plans to replicate the training across all local government areas in the state.
Speaking at the commissioning, a Social Development Specialist with the World Bank on the NFWP-SU, Dr Yetunde Fatogun, said effective waste management, financing and capacity building are critical to cutting methane emissions.
Fatogun noted that landfills and agricultural waste remain major sources of methane, stressing the need for practical, grassroots solutions and collaboration between government, development partners and private sector to support women.
On her part, the Ogun State Coordinator of the programme, Mrs Bolanle Fadairo, said the hybrid model will allow women outside Ogun to benefit through online training.
She revealed that under the parent project, 5,890 Women Affinity Groups have been established with over 199,000 beneficiaries across 11 LGAs in Ogun.
"This methane learning hub is not only for Ogun State women but for the whole world, because 26 states are going to join us online," Fadairo said.