Stakeholders in Nigeria’s climate and environment sector have renewed calls for sustainable solutions to address health and livelihood challenges faced by women especially those exposed to heat stress and harmful fumes.
The call was made in Abuja during the premiere of Yan Gurasa, a 15-minute documentary that highlights the struggles and resilience of women bakers in Kano, Northern Nigeria, who operate under extreme heat and smoke conditions.
The event was organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC) as part of the Muryarta Araya Muhalli project, which has spotlighted women-led climate action across Northern Nigeria.
Lead, Gender Justice Pillar at Oxfam, Ifeoluwa Olawumi, noted that about 98,000 premature deaths are recorded annually in Nigeria due to exposure to harmful fumes and smoke, with women and girls disproportionately affected. She emphasised the need for clean cooking solutions that protect lives while sustaining livelihoods.
The President of the Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Oghogho Musa, stressed the importance of collective action, greater awareness, and practical measures to enable women to run their businesses without undue exposure to health hazards.
Welcoming participants, Mrs. Zainab Bala of GSCC said “the project aims to promote clean cooking campaigns and raise awareness on how climate change affects women’s health.”
Organisers described the documentary as frontline evidence that underscores the impact of climate change, indoor air pollution, and heat stress on women in the informal economy, while also pointing to opportunities for cleaner heat sources, workplace cooling, safer ovens through microfinance, social protection, and behaviour-change communications.
The initiative is seen as part of broader efforts to safeguard women’s health, promote economic resilience, and advance Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive climate action.