The Founder and Visionary CEO of the African Technology and Innovation Institute (ATII), Prof. Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua, paid a courtesy visit to the National Ozone Office (NOO) at the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja, where she met with the Director, Engr. Idris Abdullahi, to explore opportunities for collaboration on climate-related initiatives and capacity-building programmes for women and young people.

Prof. Ekeng-Itua, who is also the former Chairperson of the Charity Kpabep Scholarship Programme (CKSP) and an Adviser to the Society of Women Engineers, Technologists and Scientists (SWETS), expressed appreciation to the Director and the Ministry for their continued support of environmental development initiatives.

Discussions during the visit focused on potential collaboration in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector, particularly in technical training, professional mentorship and capacity-building for young people, with emphasis on increasing female participation. The sector plays a significant role in climate action through sustainable cooling technologies and the responsible management of refrigerants with high global warming potential. However, it remains traditionally male-dominated, underscoring the need for greater female representation.

Welcoming the proposed collaboration, Engr. Abdullahi expressed the Office’s willingness to work with Prof. Ekeng-Itua. He advised her to submit a draft proposal and ensure that the proposed initiatives are clearly linked to sustainable cooling or, more broadly, the circular economy.

As a further step towards exploring potential opportunities, the Director directed Yunusa Galadima, a Programme Officer at the NOO, to facilitate Prof. Ekeng-Itua’s registration as a vendor with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Established in honour of Dr. Charity Kpabep, CKSP has previously engaged with organisations including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Federal Ministry of Environment. Through its work in education and capacity development, the programme provides a foundation for supporting women and young people in technical and environmental fields.

The visit highlighted opportunities for collaboration among government institutions, professional associations and development organisations to strengthen technical capacity and advance women’s participation in Nigeria’s green economy.