Peri-urban and rural informal micro-entrepreneurs and subsistence farmers.
In the global fight against climate change, one reality stands out: progress is limited when any community is left behind. For Nigeria, a nation rich in potential and resilience, building a truly sustainable future demands deliberate inclusion of those who remain on the margins of the climate conversation. The greatest challenge—and opportunity—lies not in our city centres, but with a vast, industrious, and often overlooked group: the peri-urban and rural informal micro-entrepreneurs and subsistence farmers.
This group forms the backbone of local economies outside the formal sector. They are the small-scale farmers tending to family plots, the market women selling food, the tailors, welders, and owners of tiny corner shops. They are defined by a powerful intersection of their economic reality, geographic location, and livelihood dependencies. They live on low and unpredictable incomes, where every Naira is allocated to immediate needs like food and shelter, making investment in the future a luxury they cannot afford. They reside in peri-urban settlements—the rapidly growing, unplanned areas on the outskirts of major cities—and in rural communities that are often disconnected from the national grid and formal supply chains. Their work and daily survival rely entirely on the only technologies available and affordable to them: cheap, polluting petrol and diesel generators, firewood and charcoal for cooking, and inefficient kerosene stoves. This is not a small niche but a massive segment of our society, conservatively estimated at fifteen to twenty million adults, most concentrated in the North West and North East regions and the sprawling peri-urban belts around cities like Lagos and Kano.
It is crucial to understand that their inability to contribute to climate solutions is not a choice but a result of systemic barriers. The primary challenge is the affordability gap. A high-quality, efficient cookstove that saves money on fuel in the long run has an upfront cost that is insurmountable for someone who can only afford a cheap charcoal pot each day. This is compounded by an information gap; the abstract message of “climate change” does not resonate when you are focused on today’s meal, and many are unaware that cleaner technologies can save them money and improve their health. Finally, an access gap persists, as formal supply chains for clean technologies are weak in these areas, and the lack of after-sales service makes the risk of investing in a new technology too high.
To engage this group, we need smart, practical, and scalable solutions that work within their reality. One actionable proposal is the creation of a “Pay-As-You-Save” Community Franchise. This model would establish a network of local franchisees distributing solar lights and efficient cookstoves. Customers would pay small, daily amounts via mobile money until the device is unlocked and becomes theirs, eliminating the barrier of high upfront cost and debt. This approach directly tackles the affordability problem while building a trusted, local supply chain. The impact would be significant, as replacing one diesel generator with a solar system can save about one ton of CO2 per year while putting money back into the user’s pocket. A consortium led by the Bank of Industry, in partnership with technology firms and local NGOs, could recruit and train local agents to deploy this system in pilot states within a year.
A second, complementary proposal is a “Farming for the Future” Cooperative Model. This initiative would partner with existing farmer cooperatives to provide a bundled package of training in climate-smart agriculture alongside access to a shared, solar-powered irrigation pump on a low-cost rental model. The impact here is twofold: it reduces the pressure to clear new land, thereby curbing deforestation, and replaces polluting diesel pumps. A single solar pump can save over five tons of CO2 per year and eliminate fuel costs for dozens of farmers, boosting their income and climate resilience. Working with agricultural extension agencies, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security could lead this initiative by selecting qualified cooperatives and arranging the necessary grants and low-interest loans, leaving the management of the shared resource to the cooperatives.
The success of these initiatives would be measured through clear metrics tracking not only outputs like the number of products distributed or farmers trained but also outcomes such as tons of CO2 reduced and litres of diesel displaced. The ultimate measure of impact would be the documented growth in household incomes and the number of local green jobs created. By focusing on these hardest-to-reach Nigerians with empathy and innovation, we do not just reduce emissions; we empower millions, build a more resilient economy, and ensure that our journey to a sustainable future leaves no one behind.
This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Nigeria Country Manager, Michael Johnson.
Decision-maker contact:
Dr. Olasupo Olusi — Managing Director and CEO of the Bank of Industry (BOI)
Email: oolusi@boi.ng