NEWS: CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECT: A’IBOM PARTNERS GERMAN COMPANY ON ESTABLISHMENT OF COOKSTOVE FACTORY

By Evangelist.com.ng edition, Sunday July 16, 2023.

Akwa Ibom State government has sealed a deal with a German based energy conservation company, Atmosfair AG , for the establishment of its factory, Atmosfair Climate Sustainability Limited, a subsidiary of Climate Change Project Innovations And Technology in the state.

The company, Atmosfair Climate Sustainability Limited produces Save80 Cookstove, a fuel efficient cookstove with less firewood in cooking.

This was the outcome of a meeting of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Thursday, with the national team On Climate Change led by Ach. Ezekiel Nya Etok, at Government House, Uyo.

Governor Eno assured on the provision of land, security, personnel and other logistics to fast track the establishment of the company and extolled Ach. Nya Etok for using his contact to make Akwa Ibom leverage on the climate change initiative.

He assured of the readiness of the state government to key-into the Energy Transition Plan of the federal government to enable it savour the benefits and embrace the climate change postulations.

“Climate change is something the world talks about today and if we can leverage on your contact, why not, It is for the benefits of our people. So I’ll like to thank you . We have listened to all the good things you have said and we are interested straight away.

“In the next one week, we are going to appoint a Special Assistant on Climate Change who will be the vocal person.

“He will spend all the time traveling around with you and ensure that he brings back reports to us and the things that we must do. We will do that as quickly as possible to show you the seriousness that we attach to this project.

“Please, the other thing I have accepted is the factory. Thank you so much for also deciding to cite the factory here. By next week, we should be sending you land documents so that the work can commence.

“You know we want to see these things as quickly as possible. So we will provide the enabling environment, security and necessary support and of course the goodwill of Government is available to ensure that we get everything we need to do on climate change, such as the Energy Transition Plan to make Akwa Ibom fully integrated,” he explained.

Governor Eno lauded Ach. Nya Etok for looking beyond party lines in his decision to attract the company to the state , describing him as a patriotic citizen with primal consideration for the development of the state and urged others to emulate his sterling qualities.

“Thank you our dear brother and friend, Arc. Ezekiel Nya Etuk, for the love you have had to share with us.

“It is actually a demonstration of the love for our state and I appreciate it so much.

“We may belong to different political parties. But you see, the whole idea like I have always maintained is that political parties are platforms to render service. Thank you very much for demonstrating that you’re thinking about your state.

“This also shows that we can work together. Our doors are open to work with people across political divides to bring development to our people. I have said it before that whatever I have to do is to ensure that our people have that development and dividends of Democracy.

The Governor spoke of his plans to convoke a state dialogue where issues bothering on the state development would be discussed with a view to chat a way forward using the A.R.I.S.E Agenda blueprint, adding that climate change would be clinically analysed for full integration and implementation in the state.

“We will have Akwa Ibom dialogue. We are trying to bring everyone to the table to have a good conversation about Akwa Ibom; our A.R.I.S.E agenda to be specific, and we will begin to look at the issues from the agenda.

“We have vocal sectors, and we would like to invite Akwa Ibomites and subject matter experts to look at those vocal sectors and see the road maps we have created and offer advice.

“You know, you don’t have to reinvent the will. There is nothing new under the sun. Instead of going round and round, we can take advantage of the contacts we have like you just did and explore some experiences instead of going through this.

“I think that is what the dialogue is all about. It is about Akwa Ibom people and how we can tap from the good will of the people who are scattered everywhere. Distinguished Senator Udo Udoma will be the chairman. It is more of the private sector thing than even the public sector.

“We will send you the invitation and we would also like to extend the invitation to the DG Climate Change Project and his Excellency the Ambassador. It will touch power, water and other sensitive issues. Now that you are here, I am sure climate change will be one of the issues to be discussed.

Earlier, leader of the team Arch. Ezekiel Nya Etok, expressed appreciation to the Governor for granting audience to the team despite the short notice .

He highlighted on the composition of the National Council on Climate Change, saying that it has President Bola Tinubu as Chairman with Vice President as Vice Chairman and eleven Ministers, National Security Adviser, Central Bank Governor as members of the Advisory Board.

Ach. Etok noted that with a budget of about seven billion dollars for Africa with Nigeria as an integral member, the state stands a good chance of benefitting from the project with the proposed establishment of Atmosfair AG which he recommended as one of the Amnesty programmes scheduled in the South South region of the Country.

He said Atmosfair AG has established a factory in Kano and is being set up in keffi in Nasarawa State while Akwa Ibom factory would cover operations in the south south and thanked the Governor for readily keying into the initiative.

On his part, the Director General National Council On Climate Change, Dr Salisu Dahiru, informed the state administration that the Council is the apex body for policies and decisions on Climate Change in Nigeria.

Dahiru commended the state for developing the climate change infrastructure and described as a welcome development the determination of the state on the attainment of climate change adaptation operations which would enable it enjoy the support and funding from World Bank and other international donor agencies.

He assured that the state would benefit optimally from the Energy Transition Plan which seeks to phase out gasoline and Diesel generators and it attendant harzards in the environment.

On hand to receive the Climate Change delegation comprising Mboho Ekpo, Regional Head Unity Bank Mr Etop Ukpe and Mr Jibrin Suleiman were Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor On ICT And Digital Services, Dr Frank Ekpenyong, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ekerete Udoh and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media And Publicity, Mr Anietie Usen.