Gender and the energy crisis: Unveiling the burden of energy crisis on rural African women in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Lack of access to reliable energy supply poses a significant constraint to human and economic development, creating a persistent hurdle for sustainable clean energy for development in Africa. Unfortunately, Nigeria bears the brunt of this energy crisis, particularly in its rural communities, where many households still cook with charcoal and firewood. In this context, achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 in Nigeria remains a distant aspiration. This study examines the unique challenges experienced by women in rural communities of Lagos State regarding the lack and inadequacy of energy supply. Specifically, it seeks to (a) shed light on the profound impact of the energy crisis on their daily stress levels, (b) examine its detrimental effects on their economic growth, and (c) investigate how the energy crisis has undermined their general well-being. The study will employ a semi-structured interview method to gather responses from a sample of 30 women purposively selected across three senatorial districts of Lagos. The analysis of the collected data will use content analysis and descriptive statistics. The findings suggest means through which, Africa can optimize energy in ways that aid strategic efforts at improving socio-economic and psychological development of African rural women.