Ogun State First Lady Bamidele Abiodun on Tuesday distribute 3,5000 Clean cooking stoves to women in the state as part of activities marking the 2026 World Environment Day celebration.
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The event, held June 9, 2026, at the June 12 Cultural Center, Kuto, Abeokuta, had the theme “Inspired by Nature: For Climate. For Our Future.” The global observance was June 5, but Ogun State shifted the date to allow wider stakeholders' participation, officials said.
Mrs. Abiodun said the clean cooking devices, provided through collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Ogun State Government, would reduce indoor air pollution, improve health for women and children, and lower dependence on firewood.
“For decades, millions of households across Africa have depended on firewood, charcoal, and other traditional biomass fuels for cooking,” she said. “Studies have consistently shown that smoke from traditional cooking methods can lead to respiratory diseases, eye problems, cardiovascular complications, and other health concerns.”
She urged beneficiaries to become “ambassadors of clean energy” in their communities.
Ogun Commissioner for Environment Ola Oresanya said the state remained committed to environmental sustainability under Gov. Dapo Abiodun. He listed key interventions including strengthened compliance monitoring, improved waste management, tree planting campaigns, and promotion of Refuse Derived Fuel, RDF, as a waste-to-energy solution.
“RDF converts combustible municipal solid waste into alternative fuel for domestic and industrial use, thereby reducing landfill pressure, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels,” Oresanya said.
Head of Service Olanrewaju Iskeel Saka charged public servants to lead by example in environmental stewardship. He commended the ministry for projects in waste management, sanitation, climate adaptation, and flood control.
“Government alone cannot achieve environmental sustainability; it requires the active participation of citizens, communities, institutions, and the private sector,” Saka said.
He added that Ogun would expand investments in waste-to-wealth programs, renewable energy, afforestation, environmental education, and climate adaptation strategies.
Delivering paper on Refuse Derived Fuel, RDF,Prof Babatunde Bada empazized that RDF can replace fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a parts of measures to address Nigeria’s waste management crisis.
The University Don of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said RDF is produced from combustible, non-recyclable waste such as plastics, paper, and textiles. Industries including cement kilns and paper mills already use the fuel.
“RDF is essentially a fuel produced from combustible components of waste such as municipal solid waste, industrial waste, or commercial waste,” Bada said. He spoke from the Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, College of Environmental Resources Management.
Bada said RDF serves a dual purpose. It diverts materials from landfills while creating an alternative fuel that can replace portions of coal in industrial applications. The 2025 International Day of Zero Waste focused on “Textile waste,” he noted.
The fuel is known by several names depending on region and quality standards. When it meets European specifications, it is called Solid Recovered Fuel, SRF, or sometimes Climafuel, Bada said.
He said the lack of universal classification remains a challenge. Organizations such as the European Committee for Standardization have developed standards to ensure consistency and quality.
RDF pellets have better emission characteristics than coal, Bada said. They produce fewer pollutants including nitrogen oxides, NOx, sulfur oxides, SOx, carbon monoxide, CO, and carbon dioxide, CO2.
Energy efficiency also improves with RDF, he said. The pellets provide up to 70 percent better combustion performance because of lower moisture content and consistent size and density.
By converting waste to energy, RDF cuts fuel costs, reduces landfill dependence, and supports the circular economy.
" The pellets can heat plant boilers and generate electricity, contributing to renewable energy production.
Adoption of biomass and waste-based fuels can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and aid climate change mitigation efforts, he said.
Bada said RDF production is relevant to Nigeria’s Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs. He said the country needs to explore the technology as both a fuel source and a sustainable waste management measure.
He harped that Policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and communities must collaborate to solve waste problems through RDF, he said.
Earlier in her Welcome Address, the Permanent Secretary of Ogun State Ministry of Environment, Mrs Rukayat lawal urged stakeholders to renew commitment to environmental protection as the state joined the global community to mark 2026 World Environment Day.
The Permanent Secretary said the theme highlights the critical role nature plays in addressing climate change and securing a sustainable future She said environmental challenges continue to grow and require collective action.
“We must work together to protect our ecosystems, promote sustainable practices, and build climate resilience,
Lawal said the ministry remains committed to advancing policies and programs that support environmental sustainability and improve quality of life for residents.
She appreciated Gov. Dapo Abiodun, development partners, and other stakeholders for their continued support of environmental protection and climate action in the state.
She also encouraged participants to use the occasion to strengthen efforts toward a greener, healthier future for Ogun State and Nigeria.
Addressing the gathering,Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, said globally, climate change remains a serious concern, arguing that traditional cooking methods cause indoor air pollution, health risks, deforestation and climate change.
Abiola-Awe who was represented by Mrs Dolapo John-Akhigbe, a principal officer in the ministry, added that the Federal Executive Council approved the National Clean Cooking Policy on March 25, 2024, and launched it at the 17th National Council on Environment, with the aim to give all Nigerian households and institutions access to clean cooking energy by 2030.
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