At least 27,000 rural women in Akwa Ibom, on Thursday, received gas cylinders filled with cooking gas, courtesy of the federal government.

The programme, implemented by the ministry of petroleum resources under the National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme (NGLPP), is a federal government initiative launched in Uyo on Thursday.

The NGLPP aims to get more Nigerian households to use clean cooking gas instead of firewood and charcoal.

In a keynote address, Ekperikpe Ekpo, minister of state for petroleum resources (Gas), said that, in addition to the gas cylinders, 3,000 women would be empowered with N100,000 each to enhance their businesses.

Mr Ekpo said the empowerment was courtesy of President Bola Tinubu’s people-centred leadership in fulfilment of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He also said that the interventions were designed to translate government policies into tangible benefits for households, women and rural communities.

“This support will help them grow their businesses, strengthen their families, and invest in the second planting season of the year to boost agriculture, increase food production and expand household income.

“It is more than a grant; it is a clear statement that this administration believes in the enterprise, resilience, and leadership of Nigerian women.

“Women empowerment and clean cooking are deeply connected because both begin at the household level and create wider benefits for health, enterprise, family wellbeing, and community development,” Mr Ekpo said.

Mr Ekpo also said that the rural women empowerment initiative was a practical investment in inclusive growth, equipping women with entrepreneurial skills, mentorship and business guidance.

In his remarks, Governor Umo Eno commended the federal government for selecting the state as the second activation point for the programme.

He described the initiative as an intervention that went beyond the distribution of cooking cylinders.

Mr Eno said that the programme would improve household welfare, protect the environment and create economic opportunities, particularly for women and vulnerable households.

“Today, we are not merely distributing LPG cylinders. We are distributing opportunity, enterprise, cleaner energy, but above all, we are delivering hope to Nigerians and to Akwa Ibomites in this case,” Mr Eno said.

He urged investors to explore opportunities across the state’s gas value chain, including LPG bottling plants, cylinder manufacturing and maintenance, gas storage, transportation, logistics, gas processing, petrochemicals and gas-based manufacturing.

He said that “Akwa Ibom has abundant oil and gas resources, growing infrastructure and a peaceful investment climate that made the state attractive to investors”.

He assured investors that his administration would continue to provide an enabling environment for private-sector participation. 

(NAN)