By Patience Chat Moses
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has collaborated with Power Africa to launch the “Growing Green Jobs for Women in Nigeria” initaitive.
The initiative which was launched on September 26, 2023 aims at promoting gender equality, clean energy solutions and align with Nigeria’s sustainability goals. It is expected to provide around 500 women and youth with skills and opportunities needed to secure better positions in Nigeria’s energy sector.
The programme offers women and youth a range of blended learning opportunities and resources to excel in the competitive energy sector workforce. It includes professional and technical skills training in areas like solar installation, project management, and communications skills, as well as employability clinics, job fairs, job shadowing experiences, and mentorship programmes.
According to Nigeria’s USAID economic programme management specialist, Susan Oranye, through the Energy Transition Plan, Nigeria seeks to achieve net zero emissions by 2060 and lift 100 million Nigerians out of energy poverty by substantially expanding clean energy generation.
” This transition is expected to create 420,000 jobs in the power sector alone by 2060, creating an opportunity for women to play a growing role in Nigeria’s traditionally male-dominated power sector,”she said.
Susan also indicated that the Growing Green Jobs for Women initiative in Nigeria aims to position women and marginalized groups at the centre of Nigeria’s clean energy transition. It aims to improve access to financial resources and eliminate gender-related barriers, fostering a gender-inclusive culture within the energy sector.
The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s efforts to shift away from fossil fuels to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.