SustyVibes, a youth-led organisation 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 in Nigeria.

The campaign, supported by the Urban Movement Innovation Fund, aims to raise awareness of the dangers of traditional cooking methods, highlight the benefits of clean cooking fuels, and advocate the adoption of cleaner cooking fuels in Nigeria.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics in 2021, 68.3 per cent of Nigerian households rely on solid biomass such as firewood and charcoal for cooking, while only 10.5 per cent use liquefied petroleum gas, and less than 1 per cent use electricity. These traditional methods not only contribute to severe respiratory illnesses, causing an estimated 95,300 deaths annually, but also accelerate deforestation and environmental degradation. Women and children are disproportionately affected, spending long hours gathering fuel and enduring harmful smoke exposure.

The Naija CookWise campaign commenced with a pre-campaign survey to assess existing knowledge of clean cooking fuels.

It was formally launched on January 26, 2025, to coincide with the International Day of Clean Energy.

It noted that this campaign will feature social media advocacy, using storytelling, infographics, and interactive challenges to dispel misconceptions and highlight the health and environmental benefits of clean cooking. To further educate urban and rural audiences on the co-benefits of clean cooking, the campaign will also include radio tours in Ibadan, Enugu, and Kaduna in Indigenous languages.

The campaign will culminate in a high-level stakeholder dialogue in April 2025, bringing together relevant government officials, researchers, manufacturers, and women’s groups to explore strategies for scaling clean cooking solutions nationwide.

The Najia CookWise campaign aligns with national efforts, including the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan (2022) and the recently approved National Clean Cooking Policy (2024), which aim to promote the widespread use of cleaner cooking fuels among Nigerian households and support Nigeria’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2060.

The Head of Projects at SustyVibes, Sonia Ugwunna, said, “We believe that every Nigerian deserves to cook in a way that is safe for their health and good for the environment.

“With the Naija CookWise Campaign, we hope to inspire a shift towards cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable cooking practices across the country.”