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Transcript/ScriptNigeria Solar Women (TV)
HEADLINE: Nigeria's Solar Sisters Bring Clean Energy to Communities
TEASER: Nonprofit program helps women entrepreneurs build profitable small businesses selling solar energy products
PUBLISHED: 07/21/2022 at 1002 pm
BYLINE: Timothy Obiezu
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Abuja, Nigeria
VIDEOGRAPHER: Emeka Gibson, Timothy Obiezu
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): All VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV_x_ RADIO__
TRT: 3:09
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE))
EDITORS NOTES.
((INTRO))
Nearly half of Nigerian households rely on high-polluting generators due to the country’s poor infrastructure and soaring fuel prices, according to joint report by research firm Stears and Nigeria's Sterling Bank. A new group called Solar Sister is helping women and girls access solar power and become more financially independent. Timothy Obiezu has more from Abuja, Nigeria.
((NAT SOUNDS - Ayeni Demonstrating to a woman))
((NARRATOR)) Business owner Esther Ayeni demonstrates her solar products to women in Nigeria, where many households do not have reliable power.
Her products come from a nonprofit group called Solar Sister, which helps women like Ayeni run a profitable clean energy business and gives customers access to renewable energy.
Ayeni once used kerosene lamps and dry cell batteries to light up her home and shop. Now she uses solar power and sells her products to customers in Abuja and other communities.
((Esther Ayeni, Solar Sister Entrepreneur)) ((Yoruba, secs)) "I take my products to women, even more remote areas. They pay me for the products in installments until they are completely paid for. It is helping them. Every one of them is enjoying the light."
((NARRATOR))
Today, Solar Sister says it has about 2,000 women entrepreneurs working in local communities in 27 out of Nigeria's 36 states.
((Olasimbo Sojinrin, Solar Sister Nigeria Director))((English, 17Secs))
"It's been eight years of starting an innovation and trying to see how gender and energy are interlinked and how we can reap the benefits of women being at the forefront of this clean energy transition.”
((NARRATOR))
Ayishetu Ndanusa joined last year with only 80 dollars. She says her business is now worth about 3,000 dollars.
((Ayishetu Ndanusa, Solar Sister Entrepreneur)) ((In English, 9 secs))
"It's helping us a lot. It has changed a lot in our lives, even my children, my husband and me. A lot has changed honestly speaking" ((NARRATOR)) Nearly half of Africa's population is facing an acute energy shortage, according to the International Energy Agency, or IEA.
The IEA says that Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia are the African countries most affected by energy poverty, and that women bear the burden.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February made the problem even worse as energy and commodity prices soared in communities already hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Energy expert Odion Omonfoman says authorities are working to ease the problem.
((Odion Omonfoman, Energy Expert))((English, 20 secs)) "A lot of investments are going into all the sectors but, like I said, it's not something that is going to be instantaneous. These are years of and decades of noninvestments, poor, poor government policies. Keep in mind the world was coming from a lockdown situation where oil prices were negative"
((NARRATOR))
The IEA says Africa could get universal access to electricity by 2030 by investing $25 billion annually in all parts of the energy system but especially clean energy.
But in the meantime, Solar Sister entrepreneurs will be reaching out to more women.
Timothy Obiezu for VOA News, Abuja, Nigeria.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Abuja, Nigeria
Embargo DateJuly 21, 2022 22:25 EDT
BylineTimothy Obiezu for VOA News, Abuja, Nigeria.
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
