As part of activities marking the International Women’s Day celebration, OXFAM has donated 250 Wood Stoves to 250 women in Boto, Tafawa Balewa LGA of Bauchi State.
Mr. Kenneth Akpan, Environmental Compliant Officer of OXFAM, Livelihood and Nutrition Empowerment Project LINE, Bauchi said the distributed stoves will discourage deforestation and protect the environment.
“The impact of deforestation affects almost every aspect of our livelihood, particularly agriculture.
“Deforestation brings about environmental degradation that affects the soil, it also brings erosion, windstorm and also delays the rain—which is what farmers need to cultivate”, he said.
Worried about the impact of deforestation, Kenneth said OXFAM as an organization was exploring possible alternatives.
“You cannot tell people to stop felling trees, because they have to cook; but you can give them alternatives on how to reduce it.
“As we are given them stoves, we are also given them the knowledge to plant trees”, he added.
Also speaking, OXFAM’s representative in Bauchi Mr. Samuel Lashom said the LINE Project in Bauchi has empowered about 12,000 women on nutrition, skills acquisitions, and environmental protection in line with its thematic areas.
Mr. Lashom argued that women in Bauchi need commensurate knowledge and skills in order to compete favourably with their male counterparts.
“And that is why OXFAM as an organization is very serious about women and girls, such that given them the right environmentally friendly knowledge and skills to enable them to become self-reliant is part of our mandate as OXFAM”, he said.
Hon. Daniel Mazadu Danjuma, Executive Chairman of Tafawa Balewa Local Government who commended OXFAM for its intervention in Tafawa Balewa.
“Your series of interventions has changed the lives of many women in Bauchi, particularly in my LGA.
“I’m appealing to women in this LGA, particularly the beneficiaries of today’s stove to make good use of the items and ensure that they have reduced deforestation”, he said.
