FCDO-LINKS, in partnership with Sterling Bank Plc and two female cooperatives in Kano (Mata Zalla and Yar Baiwa), is supporting the introduction of an Electric Vehicle (Keke NAPEP) pilot project in Kano. The project was announced at a ceremony last week, demonstrating a collaborative effort towards promoting gender empowerment, sustainable transportation and conservation within Kano state.
With access to finance, women are being supported in purchasing electric kekes, through which they will offer female only transportation services. 85 women operators and 30 women mechanics have been trained through the program. LINKS hopes to support systemic change by supporting the equal economic and full participation of women as owners, riders, service users and mechanics.
The project is hoped to demonstrate the commercial viability of kekes as a way for Kano to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, contributing to the targets set out by the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and help reduce the impacts of climate change within northern Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Chairlady of Mata Zalla Women Cooperative, Hajiya Hauwa Ahmad Tarauni, described the project as a huge economic blessing for women in the state, while Chairlady of Yar Bawai Women Cooperative, Hajiya Habiba Abubakar Imam, has predicted the number of female keke riders in Kano will quadruple in the near future.
