The Transformative Potential of Solar Energy for Addressing Gendered Energy Poverty in Rural Nigeria: A Case Study of Ahoada West, Rivers State, Nigeria

Energy poverty disproportionately affects women in rural communities, yet empirical research on the gendered dimensions of energy access in Nigeria remains limited. This study examined the gendered implications of energy poverty and the transformative potential of solar energy for women’s empowerment in Ahoada West Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. A mixed methods approach was employed, combining structured questionnaires administered to 200 households with 200 respondents (90 females and 110 males) and qualitative insights from open ended questions. The findings revealed significant gender disparities in energy burden, with women bearing primary responsibility for energy-related tasks, including firewood collection, cooking, and the management of household energy needs. Women reported spending an average of 4–6 hours daily on energy-related activities, which severely constrained their time for income generation (M = 3.55, SD = 0.80), education, and community participation. Health impacts were pronounced, with 78% of women reporting respiratory symptoms associated with indoor air pollution from biomass cooking. Energy poverty also limited women’s economic empowerment, as only 15% of women were engaged in income-generating activities compared to 40% of men. However, women demonstrated strong endorsement of solar energy as a transformative solution (M = 3.65, SD = 0.75) and expressed willingness to participate in solar enterprise development. The study concludes that addressing energy poverty through gender-sensitive solar energy interventions can significantly enhance women’s empowerment, economic participation, and well being. Recommendations include integrating gender analysis into energy planning, targeting women in solar enterprise development, and designing interventions that reduce women’s time burden while creating economic opportunities.