NGO Tasks FG On Climate Change

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Centre for 21st Century Issues, has advised the Federal Government to provide a conducive atmosphere for NGOs to actively participate in combating climate change.

The Executive Director of the NGO,Mrs Titilope Akosa, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos recently.

According to her, there is need for environmental stakeholders to collaborate toward mitigating the effects of climate change.

“We, at the Centre for 21st Century Issues, are involved in producing bio-gas from fruit wastes into solar electrification and distribution of wonder bags for cooking.

“Through these projects, we have been able to empower people by providing them with cost efficient energy,’’ she said.

The wonder bag is a standalone and non-electric insulated bag designed to reduce the amount of fuel required in the cooking of food.

Instead of being placed on a stove for the duration of the cooking period, food is instead heated to a required hot temperature and then transferred to the wonder bag.

The wonder bag uses the principle of thermal insulation to continue cooking, keeping the food warm without additional fire.

Akosa said that the NGO in conjunction with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has also produced a bio-gas plant at Ikosi Market, Ketu.

She explained that fruit wastes could be used to power the plant, producing between 4,000 cubic metres and 5,000 cubic metres renewable natural gas per day.

Akosa further said that the NGO’s solar electrification project was aimed at removing energy poverty in communities.

She said that the project had been helping artisans and those charging cell phones in commercial quantity.

The director explained that the NGO was also involved in the distribution of the wonder bags to women.

She said that the idea was to empower women and discourage them from cooking with firewood which releases carbon monoxide into the atmosphere.

The director said that preserving woods in forests was vital in ensuring absorption of emissions from the atmosphere.

She said NGOs face the challenges of sustaining their various renewable energy projects due to lack of conducive atmosphere that would make their work thrive.