- The USAID initiative would empower 500 women and youth in professional and technical skills training such as solar installation, project management and communications skills.
- Only 8 per cent of women are in STEM roles, compared to 64 per cent in non-STEM roles.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Power Africa have launched “the Growing Green Jobs for Women in Nigeria” initiative. This initiative is to foster gender equality and promote clean energy solutions. It would equip approximately 500 women and youth with the skills and opportunities to secure better jobs in Nigeria’s energy sector.
Historically, women in Nigeria have been underrepresented in energy-related professions, and their presence in leadership or decision-making roles remains limited. The Powering Jobs Census 2022 revealed a stark contrast in the distribution of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) positions (8 per cent) compared to non-STEM roles (64 per cent) within the Nigerian workforce.
To address these challenges and align with Nigeria’s sustainability goals, Power Africa introduced the Growing Green Jobs for Women in Nigeria initiative to provide women and youth in Nigeria with a wide range of blended learning opportunities and resources to excel in a competitive energy sector workforce. These include professional and technical skills training such as solar installation, project management and communications skills, employability clinics, job fairs, job shadowing experiences, and mentorship programs.
USAID/Nigeria’s Economic Program Management Specialist, Susan Oranye, said that through the Energy Transition Plan, Nigeria seeks to achieve net zero emissions by 2060 and lift 100 million Nigerians out of energy poverty by substantially expanding clean energy generation. “This transition is expected to create 420,000 jobs in the power sector alone by 2060, creating an opportunity for women to play a growing role in Nigeria’s traditionally male-dominated power sector,” she noted.
The Growing Green Jobs for Women initiative in Nigeria will position women and marginalised groups as central to Nigeria’s clean energy transition by improving access to financial resources and eliminating gender-related barriers. The initiative is focused on creating a gender-inclusive culture within the energy sector and accelerating Nigeria’s shift away from fossil fuels to help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.