Gas to Health Initiative (GTHI) Empowers 150 Local Food Vendors in Abuja with LPG Cookstoves
Gas to Health Initiative (GTHI) empowers local food vendors popularly known as “Mama Puts” with LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) cookstoves on July 14, 2018 at the National Centre for Women Development, Abuja during her 4th annual program with the theme “Better life for Mama puts/Local Food Vendors”. The aim of the program was to sensitize and empower Mama puts mostly women and girls in Abuja from the use of unhealthy cooking fuels to LPG Cookstoves, the most efficient cooking energy in Nigeria.
The event which was hosted by Mrs. Betty Ugona Executive Secretary GTHI had in attendance over 200 participants. The participants includes over 150 local food vendors, Mr. Awalu Ilu Managing Director/CEO Ultimate Gas, Engr. Henry Obih COO Downstream NNPC, Hon Obinna Chidoka, House committee on Habitat and Environment, as well as representatives of NNPC retail, Banner Gas, NAFDAC, Techno Oil, NACC among other agencies and organisations. Mrs. Willy Willy of Wazobia FM Radio anchored the event.
Mrs. Betty Ugona speaking on behalf of the GTHI noted that “Operation Mama Put/Local Food Vendors conversion to LPG usage” was launched four years ago. She noted that the project is a nationwide programme designed to convert the local food vendors from the use of traditional cooking fuels (such as firewood, charcoal, kerosene etc) to LPG which is a clean cooking fuel. She lamented that traditional cooking fuels cause deforestation, desertification and a lot of environmental degradation in addition to negative health impact. She calls on all stakeholders to join hands with GTHI to sensitize and empower Nigerians on the use of LPG for cooking.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Awalu Ilu, Managing Director/CEO, Ultimate Gas expressed delight at the efforts of the GTHI in converting local food vendors to the use of LPG and pledged to continue to support the work of the initiative. Engr. Henry Obih congratulated the beneficiaries of the initiative and encouraged them to move from the usage of firewood and kerosene to LPG. He also pledged his continued support. Hon Obinna Chidoka further encouraged the beneficiaries to move from firewood to LPG as it reduces deforestation and erosion currently ravaging several parts of the country. He appreciated the organisers of the event and pledged his continued partnership so the Initiative can educate and empower more local food vendors with LPG cookstoves.
There was a practical demonstration on how to light and use the LPG cookstoves. 150 local food vendors were given one (1) LPG cookstoves, filled 12.5kg LPG cylinder with complete accessories each.
GTHI is a non-governmental organisation with a firm resolve to create awareness for the use of LPG as the most efficient cooking fuel. The Initiative have empowered over 6,000 people with LPG filled Cylinder of different sizes with burners and complete accessories in 10 states in Nigeria.
