Former Second Lady Samira Bawumia delivered an inspiring speech at the day-two of the 2025 Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC) on October 7, 2025, at the Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra.<\/p>\n As Founder and Chairperson of AFRIWOCC, she called for women\u2019s and children\u2019s voices to be central in tackling Africa\u2019s challenges, particularly clean cooking solutions.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the heart of this crisis are women. In many African communities, women and girls spend hours each day collecting firewood and charcoal, often at great personal risk. This time could be better spent on education, livelihoods, and innovation,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n \u201cIt is a burden passed down through generations, but we have the knowledge and technology to lift it,\u201d the former second lady added. <\/p>\n ‘AFRIWOCC announces 2025 conference, promises bold climate solutions at October event<\/p>\n Samira Bawumia urged African leaders to honor their promises, stressing that traditional fuels contribute to deforestation, health risks, and environmental degradation.<\/p>\n \u201cBy scaling up clean cooking solutions, Africa can significantly contribute to global climate goals while protecting its forests and ecosystems. There is hope; LPG, biogas, ethanol, solar, and electric cooking solutions are already transforming lives where investments have been made,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n Bawumia further noted that although over $2 billion has been pledged for clean cooking in Africa, financing must translate into real impact. <\/p>\n \u201cExperts estimate that a few billion dollars annually, a small fraction of global climate financing, could deliver universal access,\u201d she mentioned.<\/p>\n Samira Bawumia highlighted AFRIWOCC\u2019s advocacy, including promoting clean cooking in schools, and reaffirmed her role as Global Champion for the Clean Cooking Alliance.<\/p>\n \u201cResearch shows that universal access to clean cooking could save $50 billion annually in health costs and lost productivity globally, with Africa accounting for a significant share. This means millions of women could be liberated from fuel poverty and its associated issues. Today\u2019s panel allows us to move from aspiration to acceleration,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s AFRIWOCC, themed \u201cYoung Voices, Innovative Ideas, Greater Impacts for Africa\u201d, brings together over 500 delegates from across Africa and the diaspora. <\/p>\n The second edition will end with a concert featuring Lasmid, Olivetheboy, Amandzeba, Rocky Dawuni, Bessa Simons, and Okyeame Kwame.<\/p>\n![\"Samira](\"https:\/\/cdn.ghanaweb.com\/imagelib\/pics\/211\/21141685.295.jpg\" "\\"Samira")
play video<\/span>Samira Bawumia has been re-appointed as glabal champion of the Clean Cooking Alliance<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n