ENABLING POLICY AND MARKET ENVIRONMENTS TO SUPPORT WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE CLEAN ENERGY SECTOR
What would happen if more women entered the energy sector? How can we unlock more opportunities for women in this area?
These questions (and more) will be addressed at the National Round Table sponsored by Solar Sister Nigeria, Africa Clean Energy, and supported by Energia this Thursday, July 29th, 2021 in Abuja, Nigeria, West Africa Time.
The Round Table discussions will focus on Nigeria but the issues and prospects can be applied across the energy landscape.
Women are a key part of the solution to scaling up energy access. This is especially true in underserved communities in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. As household energy managers, distributors, entrepreneurs, trainers, and technicians – women are in a unique position to connect with communities, increase awareness, deliver sustainable energy products and trusted services. It is natural that women become active change agents in the energy sector when they sell, maintain, and finance sustainable energy products and services.
It is vitally important that we create innovative approaches to engage women in the energy sphere and come up with solutions to the barriers that stop the engagement of women in this area.
The event will address three key questions:
- What are the opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the clean energy value chain?
- What are the prospects of having more women energy entrepreneurs?
- What must happen to unlock these opportunities?
A panel of experts in the fields of energy policy, gender equality, renewable energy, clean energy advocacy, finance, energy poverty will speak and discuss these questions at the Round Table Event.
Highlights of the Round Table event:
- Opening Remarks will be brought by the Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Environment, HE Hon. Sharon Ikeazor.
- Special Remarks on Gender & Sustainable Energy policy and environments to support women entrepreneurs by Silvia Sartori, the Program Manager, Women Economic Empowerment, ENERGIA.
- Keynote speaker, Dr. Meseret Teklemariam Zemedkun (Ph.D., Earth Science, Geothermics), will address the audience on “The Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs and Their Impacts in the Clean Energy Space”. Dr. Zemedkun is currently implementing a program through the Africa Women Energy Entrepreneurs Framework (AWEEF) on programs to support Women Entrepreneurs in Energy in Africa.
- Solar Sister Entrepreneurs Ester Peter from Kaduna, Mary Dauda from Bauchi, and, Oluwakemi Ojewoye from Lagos will talk about their own experiences and journeys as Women Entrepreneurs, moderated by Solar Sister Training Manager, Chioma Ome, and Dr. Ejiro, Ph.D.
- Current policies that support women and where the gaps are will be addressed by panelists: Ify Malo (CEO, Clean Technology Hub) Engr Faruk Yusuf Yabo, (Ag Director Renewable and Rural Access, Federal Ministry of Power). Chibuikem Agbaegbu (Country Manager ACETAF), and moderated by Temilade Sesan.
- What are the obstacles for women entrepreneurs and how do we unlock these opportunities? What role does data play and how do we overcome cultural barriers? Panelists for the discussion are: UN Women/AfDB, Habiba Ali (CEO Sosai Renewables), Adedotun Eyinade (Program Manager of NoMAP), Kathy Julik-Heine (USAID Power Africa – Nigeria Power Sector Program)and moderated by Queen Aghomon.
- To wrap up the Round Table the Moderators will discuss sector-specific challenges facing women entrepreneurs along with targeted calls to action, plans, and recommendations.
The National Round Table is sponsored by Solar Sister, Africa Clean Energy, and supported by Energia.
