MAKOKO WOMEN GET NATIONAL CLEAN COOKSTOVE AS LAGOS FLAGS OFF PILOT DISTRIBUTION

…Beneficiaries to receive ₦10,000 Monthly for 15 Years, Free Health Insurance – GreenPlinth CEO

The clean cookstove device on display at flag off Pilot distribution

Lagos State government has officially flagged off the pilot distribution of clean cookstoves starting with 12 beneficiaries from the Makoko community, which marks the first phase of Nigeria’s ambitious 80 Million Clean Cookstove Initiative.

Held on Monday at the B.O.S Hall, LTV Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, the event represents a major milestone in the nationwide programme, which aims to improve health outcomes, promote environmental sustainability, and tackle energy poverty across all 36 states and the FCT.

 

Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ope George, described the initiative as “the first spark of a transformative movement.”

 

“Lagos State has been allocated 8 million cookstoves under this national scheme, registered with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and we are proud to take the lead in implementation,” George said.

 

“This pilot effort is intentional. We are starting where the impact is needed most – in communities like Makoko, which bear the brunt of energy poverty and climate vulnerability.”

l-r: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo; the Commissioner, Mr. Ope George and the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi at the event.

Charging the beneficiaries to embrace their role in the historic project, he added: “You are the first ambassadors of this important journey. Your feedback, your experience, and your advocacy will shape how this programme scales across Lagos. You are not just recipients of a cooking device—you are agents of environmental change in your communities.”

 

The initiative, he noted, aligns with the THEMES+ agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, which envisions a smart, green, inclusive, and resilient Lagos.

Some beneficiaries from the Makoko community after being allotted their cookstove at the pilot distribution event.

 

In her welcome remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi, underscored the collaborative effort behind the initiative, describing the launch as “a declaration that we are listening to the people, building strong partnerships, and rolling out sustainable, inclusive solutions.”

 

“This is the first official distribution of cookstoves under the 80 million national initiative. We are starting with 12 beneficiaries from Makoko, selected from an initial data pool of 100. This pilot is just the beginning of a larger rollout that will reach thousands of households across the state,” she said.

Special Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi making her remarks at the event.

 

She noted that the 8 million cookstoves allocated to Lagos will be delivered directly to households in target communities, particularly those that rely on firewood for cooking.

Some beneficiaries from the Makoko community after being allotted their cookstove at the pilot distribution event.

Technical partner for the project, GreenPlinth Africa, led by its CEO Mr. Olawale Akinwunmi, introduced one of the first beneficiaries, Abiodun, who had already used the stove and testified to its speed, cleanliness, and safety.

 

Akinwunmi also announced that beneficiaries would be enrolled to receive a monthly stipend of ₦10,000 for the next 15 years. They will also enjoy access to free medical care through the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), starting from August—provided documentation is completed in July.

l-r: Permanent Secretary, Lagos Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo; CEO of GreenPlinth Africa, Mr. Olawale Akinwunmi; Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi and the first beneficiary, Bidemi Abiodun at the event.

He addressed concerns from firewood sellers, saying, “We are not driving anyone out of business. Rather, we are helping wood traders transition to selling briquettes—a cleaner, safer alternative.”

The Makoko residents who received cookstoves include: Agban Modinat, Vivian Etekpo, Ajayi Modupe, Gandotoho Hannah, Abubakar Salamatu, Amaka Edeh, Tanti Abel, Bose Hunyeme, Bidemi Abiodun, Alice Kokotu, Whenou Mardine, and Chinaga Obaje.

 

With the pilot distribution now underway, the Lagos State Government is calling on development partners, private investors, and donors to support the full-scale rollout and expansion of clean energy access across Nigeria’s most populous state.

More photos from the event: