The Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, a non- governmental organization (NGO) has called on Niger Delta communities to embrace energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources to improve environmental and socioeconomic conditions in the region.
Speaking at a town hall meeting in Ibaka Town, Okrika Local Government Area recently, Kebetkache’s Project Officer, Dr. Confidence Otikor, emphasized the importance of cleaner energy alternatives.
She highlighted the benefits of transitioning to renewable energy, including improved air quality, reduced pollution, job creation, and enhanced energy security.
Dr. Otikor noted that the shift from fossil fuels to renewables plays a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change.
She explained that energy transition not only changes how energy is produced, distributed, and consumed but also ensures a more sustainable and resilient environment.
The town hall meeting was part of Kebetkache’s sustained awareness campaign for a cleaner Niger Delta.
The project manager stressed the role of women in sustainable land management, conservation, and climate resilience, urging that they be actively involved in energy transition processes to ensure inclusivity.
She revealed that Kebetkache’s intervention is supported by BothEnds, an organization committed to addressing environmental degradation and gender inequality in the region.
The Niger Delta, she said, suffers from severe land degradation due to oil spills, gas flaring, deforestation, and soil erosion, which have led to decreased agricultural productivity and environmental instability.
“The loss of mangrove forests and available land from coastal erosion has led to diminished agricultural productivity, threatening the sustainability of the environment,” Dr. Otikor stated. “Hence, the advocacy for a Just Energy Transition is crucial and has been on the need to consider everybody, while planning the strategy or a transition.”
Other Kebetkache program officers in attendance, including Mrs. Mary Alexander, Mrs. Idongesit Smart, and Mr. Chukwuemeka Uneanyi, reiterated the need to adopt sustainable energy sources while ensuring gender-responsive policies in the transition process.
A key highlight of the event was the planting of over 200 mangrove trees at the Ibaka waterfront.
This conservation initiative aimed to mitigate the effects of oil pollution, deforestation, and land degradation, thereby restoring the community’s ecosystem and improving livelihoods.
The NGO continues to advocate for cleaner energy sources and environmental sustainability, urging local communities and stakeholders to collaborate in making the Niger Delta a healthier place for future generations.
