The Sahara Group Foundation, the social impact division of the international energy and infrastructure conglomerate, has launched the Sahara Community Impact Project (SCIP). This new national initiative is designed to transform communities by deploying resources, skills, and opportunities directly into local ecosystems, focusing on collective action and entrepreneurship.
SCIP aims to build the foundation for truly sustainable, locally led economic growth by leveraging Sahara’s “EXTRApreneurship” model—a unique approach that empowers individuals while reducing resource waste.
The SCIP Hub Model
Chidilim Menakaya, Director of the Sahara Group Foundation, announced that SCIP will establish specialized Community Business Hubs that will act as engines for job creation and long-term business sustainability. The ultimate goal is to build regional hubs with export potential by unlocking local talent and enterprise potential across diverse sectors (agriculture, craftsmanship, digital innovation, and services).
These hubs will provide comprehensive support through shared resources:
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Shared Processing & Production Facilities: To reduce costs and improve product quality.
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Capacity Building: Training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, branding, and digital skills.
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Market Access: Strengthening structured value chains and collective visibility.
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Finance Access: Enhancing access to capital via partnerships with financial institutions.
Scaling the Impact
Bethel Obioma, Head of Corporate Communications at Sahara Group, confirmed that SCIP will pilot in Nigeria and is intended to become the template for replicating similar interventions to kick-start community-led economic transformation across the rest of Africa.
The initiative is guided by an in-built assessment procedure to ensure measurable and long-term impact. The call for applications from communities or entrepreneurs will go live in January 2026 through official Sahara Group Foundation channels, followed by thorough reviews, training, and mentorship to strengthen business models.
Project Lead David Ayinde urged stakeholders to join in amplifying the initiative, envisioning SCIP becoming “a beacon of sustainable development, empowering communities to grow from within.”
