Building Sustainable Societies

Welcome to Sahara Group Foundation

Sahara Group Foundation is the Personal and Corporate Social Sustainability vehicle of Sahara Group Limited. Our investment focuses on helping to increase access to energy and promoting sustainable environments, with the main goal of improving lives and livelihoods.

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2023 Sahara Impact Fund Fellows

Our Focus Areas

Access to Energy

Access to Energy

In line with our vision and the United Nation’s SDG Goal 7- ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, Sahara Group Foundation focuses its effort and investment on helping to improving access to energy for all. Through its programmes and strategic partnerships, we are helping to promote innovative approaches and actions that support increased energy access for all.

Energy demand is set to double by 2040, largely due to population growth estimates. With a spotlight on developing societies, we are leading and engaging in active discourses and making considerable investment commitments that not only help to address poor access to energy but help to identify and support novel solutions to the problem.

Through our Sahara Impact Fund Fellowship programme, we are directly investing in social entrepreneurs that are helping to promote increased access to energy through their social enterprises.

Sustainable Environments

Sustainable Environments

Our commitment to promoting sustainable environments is unwavering. We achieve this through our strategic programs and partnerships that support actions towards the preservation of the environment for today and future generations.

The United Nation SGDs 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 helps to highlight the importance of protecting and maintaining our environment. As attainment of these goals would support improved and sustainable development for all.

Sahara Group Foundation through its Recycling programs and Improved Security through Clean Energy Projects is directly making significant contributions to promoting sustainable environments across borders.

Sahara Impact Fund

In 2020, Sahara Foundation launched the Sahara Impact Fund (SIF), through a strategic partnership between Sahara Foundation, LEAP Africa, and Impact Investment Foundation.

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SAHARA STEAMERS PROGRAMME

Launched in 2021, the Sahara STEAMers Program is a social intervention afterschool initiative targeted at secondary school students in Africa.

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GO Recycling

Sahara Foundation and Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) have agreed a strategic partnership geared towards rolling out a series of recycling exchange hubs across 12 local government areas in Lagos state.

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News & Updates

Meet Lazarous Siwelwa
Plastic Waste Animation English
Plastic Waste Animation Pidgin
CELEBRATING UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN (UI) @ 75: THE GUARDIAN’S SPECIAL FOCUS ON DISTINCTIVE ALUMNI
International Youth day 2023
Meet James Madheir
Meet Oluchi Assurance Ayilara
STEAMing Ahead: How the Sahara STEAMers Programme is Helping to Foster Creativity and Critical Thinking in African Classrooms
Meet James Madheir
Meet James Madhier

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Building Sustainable Societies

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Kehinde Fashola

Nigerian

Enterprise Description

Fizzle Power Tech is a green tech startup that makes use of the power of deep technologies to ensure/accelerate better access to affordable electricity. At Fizzle Power Tech, we specialize in providing tokenized solar energy systems to accelerate access to an affordable Pay-As-You-GO solar energy for Urban, Peri-Urban and Rural communities in Under-served African Countries with the use of Blockchain technology.

What inspired you to start? 

I grew up in an environment that had little or no access to electricity, and as such, we generate electricity with the use of a kerosene lantern. While in the university I initially had the interest of studying energy Management but no university in Nigeria offered such program as at that time. Over time, this obsession developed into an impulse and I decided to set-up a renewable energy company with the name Fizzle Power Tech. I made a research into how much cost companies in Nigeria incur on fuel per day.

Impact since inception

We generated a Provision of a 10KW Pay-As-You-GO solar energy systems at Olomore Market in Abeokuta with as low as 10 Naira per day fee – March 2023. We generated and installed a PAYGO solar energy systems to The MAKOKO DREAM SCHOOL, Yaba, Lagos. Makoko is an informal settlement across the 3rd Mainland Bridge located on the coast of mainland Lagos. The settlement lacks basic social amenities such as electricity, schools, and healthcare clinics.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

N/A 

How is this different?

Nigeria has only one solar blockchain company presently. Onewatts Solar. Our Structure is diverse with high market availability. The Fizzle Blockchain Power service has a great format and 100% user friendly. The pricing system is flexible and affordable payment system is created to support every class. The Fizzle Blockchain electricity is built on great technology with the use of blockchain for certificate authentication.

Joyce Rugano

Kenyan

Enterprise Description

Ecorich Solutions is a Kenyan-based company founded by Joyce Waithira that develops AI devices that take only 3 days to convert otherwise harmful household waste into affordable organic fertilizer that is 70% cheaper than normal fertilizers to enable African smallholder farmers to access affordable fertilizer to increase their yields. Beyond that, it enhances the value of banana plantations and provides job opportunities for Burundi’s unemployed youth.

What inspired you to start? 

Having witnessed the effects of climate change on farmers and the garbage burden in dumpsites, I realized that 70% of this waste can be recycled. This is the same waste that goes into landfills and water sources causing the spread of diseases such as malaria, and cholera which are big epidemics in African countries, yet farmers are experiencing huge agricultural losses in the rural areas. I made a decision to bring change and save the future of African smallholder farmers as well as our environment. I developed a device that converts this waste into organic fertilizers for farmers thus increasing their farm yields all with an aim of addressing SDG Goal 1 on Zero Hunger.

Impact since inception

In the last 1 year, we have managed to produce 9.2 tonnes of organic fertilizer from kitchen waste, reaching 2,250 farmers, and recording a 25% growth rate. 2)We have also been able to produce and distribute 385 waste-to-fertilizer decomposer devices to urban households which convert the waste into 70% cheaper organic fertilizer. We hope to distribute 2155 more waste-to-fertilizer decomposer devices in the next 12 months. 2)So far, the ripple effect of our organic fertilizer output has seen us distribute 5,000 bags of organic fertilizer to 2,250 farmers in Kiambu and Machakos County, reclaiming back agricultural viable lands, and increasing crop production. 3)We have been able to turn 17 tonnes of waste into affordable organic fertilizer in the past 6 months helping keep the environment clean and preserve our natural resources. 4)We have prevented 1 tonne of methane from being emitted into the atmosphere in the last 6 months through the reduction of dumpsites.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

2,250 farmers in Kiambu and Machakos County

How is this different?

Ecorich food waste decomposer is quite unique in many aspects making it stand out as a viable, portable, and more dependable means of food waste conversion to organic fertilizer. We enjoy the benefit of producing the most affordable organic fertilizer in the market which is 70% cheaper than regular fertilizers per 50kg bag. Achieving a 70% cheaper fertilizer has been made possible by the ease of access and cost of our raw material coming from waste as compared to our competitors who have to import industrially manufactured fertilizers.

Jolis Nduwimana

Burundian

Enterprise Description

WEGE COMPANY is a social startup that promotes a green economy in Burundi through a circular economy. It transforms banana waste into inexpensive, reusable, recyclable eco-friendly packaging. It collects banana trash from different banana farmers after harvesting and transforms it into eco-friendly packaging that composts within a week after its usage. They are alternatives to plastic bags. Our project aims to limit the overuse of plastic packaging, which contributes to animal deaths, climate change, and environmental deterioration.

Beyond that, it enhances the value of banana plantations and provides job opportunities for Burundi’s unemployed youth.

What inspired you to start? 

It all started in 2017, after my high school Graduation; I lost my beloved father shotgunned by unknown criminals. As the firstborn in a vulnerable family of small-scale farmers and breeders, I had to take responsibility in order to support my siblings to continue their studies. At the same time in 2018, I witnessed three of our cows losing weight to death because they swallowed plastics thrown into nature, and in our neighborhood animals were also dying massively. The massive loss of our cattle pushed me to think of a sustainable solution to meet the above-mentioned ravaging challenge. The idea of manufacturing eco-friendly packaging from bananas came to me. I then started WEGE COMPANY.

Impact since inception

We have been able to ban all plastic bags in Karusi province, located in the central part of Burundi, after only one year of operation. And by 2024, we hope to replace 28,800,000 plastic bags, resulting in a reduction of 145,152,200 kilograms of CO2. According to statistics, 70% of young people in Burundi do not find work after finishing their studies. We must also remember those who live with a disability and are sometimes despised because of it. We have, however, recruited 14 graduated young people, including three orphans and two people with disabilities, who are now serving in our initiative. We intend to hire at least 54 graduates and young people to work in various departments of our Initiative WEGE COMPANY by 2023.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

286 banana farmers

How is this different?

The difference that our innovation makes is based firstly on the affordability of our packaging, which is the cheapest of all other packagings on the market since banana waste is abundant here in Burundi. For example, our competitors import the raw material and the cheapest of their packaging on the market cost approximately 1 US$ (2,000 BIF). That’s a lot of money to spend at least every week for many families in Burundi. Furthermore, Burundi is one of the developing countries which is still facing many challenges based on poverty, more than 89% of the Burundian population cannot afford those packaging. As a solution, are selling our packaging at an average price of USD 0.25 $ per piece.

Patience Alifo

Ghanaian

Enterprise Description

Econexus Ventures Limited (ENVL) is a Ghanaian based social enterprise commercializing innovative clean energy solutions in Africa with a focus on sustainable biofuel and waste-to-energy production using environmentally friendly technologies. Our business venture is promoting the use of clean cooking fuels and stoves across West Africa by gradually replacing charcoal, firewood, and expensive LPG as rapidly as possible with clean-burning bio-ethanol gel fuels and stoves. Our fuel is made from the valorization of locally sourced organic waste.

What inspired you to start? 

My motivation for promoting easy access and affordable clean fuel comes from this personal story where my grandmother got paralyzed by a snake bite while fetching firewood to cook for the family in a small village called Kpeve located in the Volta region of Ghana. Growing up with passion to solve this major problem, I decided to venture into developing alternative sources of clean fuel for cooking to avoid this preventable accident from happening to many young girls and women in Africa who go out in search for fuel woods to meet household cooking needs.

Impact since inception

About 212 households now have access to clean-burning, affordable, and reliable locally-produced ethanol fuel for cooking. Deforestation and air quality in communities using our fuels and stoves have reduced by 15% and improved by 80% respectively. 10 direct jobs and 50 indirect jobs were created for youth and women. 350 tonnes of PET bottles have been collected and used to bottle our clean-burning ethanol fuel for users.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

212 Families

How is this different?

The clean cooking fuel (ethanol gel fuel and liquid ethanol fuel) we produce is a renewable product made from locally sourced pineapple peels, organic waste (cashew apples and sugarcane molasses). It is a smokeless fuel which burns cleaner and 3 times longer than the current traditional cooking fuels of dung, crop waste, wood, charcoal, and liquid kerosene being used by the majority of urban and low-income Ghanaians.

ERICK MBEVA

Kenyan

Enterprise Description

Green Culture Community Initiative(GCCIAFRICA) organization advocating in transforming lives of young people by creating employment from trash castoffs;Artifacts/handicraft and renewable energy from trash in form of charcoal briquettes .We are creating circular economy around solid waste management value chain,we are advocating for use of clean energy and fight for global warming through disacouraging deforestation and burning of trash but instead reuse to create valuable items from trash to minimize green house gases emissions.We are behind ban of charcoal in some part of kenya by the name kitui county and we are gave alternative through smokeless charcoal briquettes from trash.

What inspired you to start? 

After started job Search where i joined CSOs network under Better Life Care,life become harder and i came to Kitui i sold insurance and loans but the business seems harder i started to think about my project on solid waste management i wrote a proposal and fortunately a friend of mine who is VSO alumni told me about alumni grant.I submitted the proposal and fortunately i was funded this is where GCCIAFRICA was borne i launched the project through community clean up and trained on artifacts/charcoal briquettes creation from trash,fertilizer and did household survey i went ahead and wrote article on how burning of charcoal will lead county to desert.

Impact since inception

I have employed over 100 People some in different sectors and sold to 200 tones of charcoal briquettes and recycled over 20 tons of plastic waste.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

200

How is this different?

We are creating eco-biofuel from waste in replacement of wood charcoal,home decor from trash castoffs in replacement from wood carvings and affordable eco-buildings from trash castoffs in replacement kiln bricks.

Emmanuella Azegba

Nigerian

Enterprise Description

Fibban Enterprise is a social enterprise focused on reducing deforestation and plastic pollution through the production of eco-friendly and durable packaging bags made from 100% organic fiber. Our bags come in various shapes and sizes and are designed to be practical and convenient. Our unique value proposition is our commitment to promoting sustainable practices by offering an alternative to plastic bags and reducing the reliance on wood-based packaging materials. Our bags are made from natural fibers that are biodegradable and compostable, making them an environmentally friendly choice.

What inspired you to start? 

The inspiration behind starting Fibban Enterprise was the desire to tackle environmental pollution caused by plastic waste and deforestation. We were motivated by the need to find a sustainable solution to the growing problem of plastic pollution and the impact it was having on our environment. We were also concerned about the impact of deforestation on the environment and wanted to find a way to reduce the demand for wood-based packaging materials.

Impact since inception

We have impacted over 500 individuals through webinars, trainings, and educational campaigns about the dangers of plastic pollution and the importance of eco-friendly alternatives. We have also produced and sold over 100 eco-friendly bags starting from the individuals ( students in Ijebu-Ode), women in rural areas and organizations, reducing the demand for plastic bags and promoting sustainable practices.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

500

How is this different?

Use of 100% Organic Fibre: Unlike most other solutions that are made of synthetic materials or a blend of organic and synthetic materials, our eco-friendly bags are made from 100% organic fibre. This makes them completely biodegradable and compostable, and helps to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the environment. Sturdy and Durable: Our eco-friendly bags are designed to be sturdy and durable, which means they can be reused multiple times before they are disposed of. This reduces the need for single-use plastic bags that end up in landfills and oceans. Educational Outreach: In addition to producing eco-friendly bags, we also engage in educational outreach to schools and rural communities, to raise awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and the benefits of using eco-friendly products. This sets us apart from other solutions that focus solely on producing eco-friendly products. Tech-enabled: We leverage technology in our operations, from online marketing to digital payments, record keeping, and research and development. This sets us apart from other solutions that may not be as tech-enabled.

Philipo Kitungano

Tazanian

Enterprise Description

Kigoma Eco cultural Tourism enterprise is female founded and led tourism Enterprise located in western part of Tanzania in Kigoma region. We mainly focus on Tourism Activities by organizing tours in and around kigoma including chimpanzees trekking at Gombe and Mahale national Parks. Visit to Ujiji historical site, traditional dances and local food cooking experience, local canoeing and boat cruising at Lake Tanganyika, Trekking kitwe forest, Palm tree tour. We connect visitors with local community and ensure that local women and youth benefit economically and socially from Tourism through practicing community based tourism.

What inspired you to start? 

Kigoma is blessed with abundance of cultural and natural heritage resources which are underutilized. These heritage resources are potential for tourism attraction. So I created this enterprise to solve lack of tourism information among visitors who wants to visit kigoma, create affordable packages for tourists who dream to trekk the chimps both in Gombe and Mahale national Parks. To create employment opportunities and income generation activities among women and youth through engaging with them in community based tourism.

Impact since inception

We have created a group of 15 women who host visitors in traditional dances tour , local food cooking experience and Palm tree tour. 6 youth are hosting visitors in local canoeing and boat cruising imin lake Tanganyika.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

More than 30 women who are selling famous bed sheets in Kigoma have benefited from selling their bed sheets to tourists. While having customers we normally buy our food stuff from the local market.

How is this different?

Compared to other tourism companies that Operate in Kigoma our enterprise create unforgettable experience by connecting visitors direct with local community through community based tourism activities like traditional dances, local food cooking experience, Palm tree tour, local canoeing and boat cruising. This create income to women and youth who host the visitors. We promote local women market found in Kigoma ujiji where women sew and sell their famous bed sheets.

Kachigo Zulu

Zambian

Enterprise Description

We an internet of things ( IoT) company focused on providing solutions in the waste management sector. Spotless city is a product of Eco Cube Technology which employs the use of smart bin technology that enables easy monitoring of waste in a particular bin through smart chips that are installed in the bin .Spotless comes with a complementary App (Spotless city mobile App) which acts as a center for waste collection companies and their clients fostering an efficient two way communication system. The app helps waste collectors to get data on which bin is ready for collection at a particular time making it easy for them to plan their routes.

What inspired you to start? 

as pills of uncollected waste , overflowing of waste especially in market and bus station areas leaving our cities clean and healthy. With a healthy environment productivity in communities is guaranteed. When a city has less solid waste it undoubtedly is at a lesser risk of experiencing harsh environmental effects such as climate change.

Impact since inception

With an estimated population of 3,234 Eco cube will be making money through subscriptions from waste collection companies that sign up to our platform.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

2,250 farmers in Kiambu and Machakos County

How is this different?

We are first in africa to use IOT in waste management

Andrew Mpashi

Zambian

Enterprise Description

Twalima agro solutions is a social enterprise helping improve the lives of farmers in zambia, the company was founded in 2020 although was officially incorporated as a limited company by shares in January 2022. We are re-inventing and re-imagining energy systems in agriculture by designing, manufacturing and installing low tech prefabricated portable bio digester systems and gas cookstoves for energy poverty rural communities in southern province of zambia. Biogas systems are the most effective way of addressing energy poverty especially among rural livestock farmers, as such our bio digester systems are helping local farmers with clean cooking and heating energies.

What inspired you to start? 

The idea for twalima agro was inspired by personal experiences and the desire to help lessen the challenges farmers in our community face. I was raised in a farming background where most residents in our community were small holder livestock and horticulture farmers, our community was not connected to the national electricity grid despite being located less than 20 kilometer from the central business district (the community is now connected to the national grid though most households are still not connected to electricity). It was clear there was a huge need for packaging solutions that are 100% eco-friendly and do not in any way contribute to environmental pollution and climate change.

Impact since inception

We have directly provided clean cooking energy to 10 households in mazabuka by installing the portable bio digesters, we plan to increase clean energy access especially in low income communities through our CLUSTER MODEL where we are grouping houses in clusters of 5 and 10. Our 2023 target is to serve more than 100 households. Besides increasing access to cheap clean energy, we are also creating economic and environmental impacts in or communities. we have created 6 direct jobs and 21 indirect jobs in our enterprise.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

100+

How is this different?

Currently on the Zambian commercial bio gas market, there is no organization/company offering low tech prefab portable bio digesters. The available biogas generation solutions in zambia are dome-like bio digesters built mostly from concrete and brickwork. Such type of bio digesters are quite expensive for local farmers to afford and international organizations such as SNV subsidize their construction. Our bio digesters are designed and prefabricated in our workshops then shipped, assembled and installed on the farmers/customer premises, this reduces technical and cost inefficiencies that arise from on-site construction of biodigester systems.

Ainomugisha Shifra

UGANDAN

Enterprise Description

SOLAFARMS makes solar powered cold storage units to be sold and rented out to organized farmer groups, food market vendors and restaurants such that they can safely preserve their unsold food for up to 21 days. The storage units shall be located at food market centers and in locations with organized food farmer groups for space renting on a pay-per-use basis while institutions like hotels and restaurants shall buy. 

What inspired you to start? 

I have been helping my mother sell food since childhood and have grown up seeing problems associated with this business. Food wastage as a result of rot has always stood out as the major cause of loss and scarcity in food markets and farms. the losses that I have personally witnessed inspired me to find a solution to this problem if food business was to be sustainable in Uganda. 

Impact since inception

We are a starting enterprise that is at a full production stage that we are currently seeking to fund 

Number of beneficiaries since inception

N/A 

How is this different?

All our cold storage units shall be solar powered to allow flexibility of reaching off grid regions and be environmentally friendly. We are also providing the service at pay-per-use basis which is cost-effective and efficient. Lastly, we also transport the food products in our cold storerooms while our competitors are stationed in fixed positions

Chidozie Igweilo

Nigerian

Enterprise Description

Quadloop is a clean tech company that utilises electronic waste to build sustainable energy products.

What inspired you to start? 

The need to promote made in Nigeria energy product and solutions.

Impact since inception

Since inception we have been able to utilise about 4707Tons of e waste while providing affordable clean energy to over 100 people in mostly Ogun state and Abuja.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

100+

How is this different?

We are solving the problem of electronic waste and poor energy distribution in rural communities, our unique value proposition is that our products are made from 70% electronic waste materials.

Tukwatanise Bonnita

UGANDAN

Enterprise Description

Treescape Planet is a not-for-profit initiative whose mission is; “to make all persons of the community champions of sustainable development with a focus on promoting afforestation, agroforestry and re-afforestation.” Treescape planet utilizes an empowerment approach that suits various contexts which enables the communities to leverage on the available knowledge to improve their livelihoods, enhance healthy living, promote economic development and strengthen community resilience towards environmental conservation.

What inspired you to start? 

Uganda has lost 41.6% of its forest cover in the last 100 years (1921-2021). In 1900, Uganda’s forest cover stood at 54% and by 2017, it stood at a miserable 12.4%. There is consistent pressure on land for cultivation and settlement and increasing demand for wood fuel. Whereas efforts have been made to restore the forest cover, the population has not been adequately involved in this restoration process. It is against this background that Treescape Planet desires to implement its programs by; Promoting environmental civic awareness and Promoting economic empowerment.

Impact since inception

Since inception, TREESCAPE has planted over 3,700 trees in the areas of Nakaseke in Uganda since 2022, with a focus on agroforestry and sustainable land use practices. Our initiatives have been shown to improve soil health, increase crop yields, helped to restore degraded land, improve water quality, and provide economic opportunities for local communities, provide income and food security for smallholder farmers, and contributed to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

Planted 3700+ Trees

How is this different?

Social media and crowdfunding are innovative solutions that have been used to support our tree planting ventures in several ways, such as raising awareness, mobilizing funds, and engaging with stakeholders. Overall, the use of social media and crowdfunding provides a more accessible, transparent, and engaging way to support tree planting ventures than traditional fundraising methods. These solutions can help to reach a wider audience, generate more interest and support, and build a community of engaged supporters.

Muideen Adegoke

Nigerian

Enterprise Description

DigitAgric is a circular agribusiness that aggregates agricultural wastes and crop residues from food processing companies, abattoirs, poultry farms and smallholder farmers. We transform these wastes into two different products such as biochar and biochar-based fertilizer that double the yields of farmers, renew degraded soils and last longer in the soil.

What inspired you to start? 

I am a farmer with over five years of experience in crops farming. Farming in Nigeria is becoming unprofitable for smallholder farmers simply because of hike in the prices of agricultural inputs. It is not an overstatement that the cost of fertilizer covers about 50% cost of farming any agricultural crops in Nigeria. This is a serious problem for many smallholder farmers.

My desire for an alternative fertilizer and the need to reduce the costs of farming in the last three years left me with no option/choice other than to research on possible ways of using local materials and wastes from poultry farms, abattoirs, and food wastes from food processing companies and public markets to produce an eco-friendly and affordable fertilizer.

Impact since inception

DigitAgric products improve the overall livelihood of rural smallholder farmers and raise their income by 50%.We aggregate crop residues such as corn husk, rice husk, to create an additional revenue stream for farmers.

We are making or reducing costs of fertilizer for farmers and increasing long-term farm yields by 30%. Lastly, we are sequestering 1.5 tons of carbon emissions per acre of land fertilized with biochar-based fertilizer.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

1000 smallscale farmers

How is this different?

We are present directly at the local farms with that farmers and our digital platform, bring the urban people closer to the farmers.

Muofhe Ratshikombo

South African

Enterprise Description

Ofhy pty is a young but vibrant company that operates in the production and manufacturing of Homemade Mango Atchar, Vegetable Atchar and Condiments.it is the parent company of Oumie’s Grandè . The company operates primarily in South Africa as it’s immediately market and the rest of SADC region as its ultimate market.

What inspired you to start? 

Because of Lack of employment in my country and my passion For Agriculture and Agri-business,I want to be part of the solution.

Impact since inception

We have employed 4 permanent workers and 8 working on seasonal basis and also in the near future we want to start giving back to the community by offering in service training to students who are looking for work experience.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

100+

How is this different?

We pride ourselves in being a business that is always striving to find innovative ways of doing things. Back in the days Atchaar business owners used to run their businesses from their home, however, When we started Oumie’s Grandè we had a different plan as a result, we have a shop where people can buy our products and also listed in different super markets such as Roots butchery, OBC, fire fly butchery and also E- platforms.

Osato El-Osemwingie

Nigerian

Enterprise Description

El Gazelle Kilishi; an Agric-tech company focused on reducing post harvest loss,Climate resilience while building a world standard kilishi processing plant in Nigeria;using tech to reduce food poisoning and create a more stable planet. Solar-powered/ Mechanized kilishi factory; A Climate Adaptation Innovation in Nigeria to make traditional Nigerian food more sustainable. We partner with 2000 female and 1000 male(farmers) in Northern Nigeria, Western Nigeria and in different locations in Nigeria to reduce the nutritional loss impact on harvested crop and enable them make more profit.

What inspired you to start? 

I have chosen this work because I lost an aunt from food poisoning complications after consuming kilsihi made in the open air, this is because Nigeria has one of the highest rate of deforestation, according to Conversation International- losing around 410,000 hectares/year from 2005-2010. Bush burning worsens with climate change; as during KILISHI PRODUCTION firewood, cornstalks are used to dry the meat outdoors with flies perching on it and dust on it , which is unhygienic, can lead to food poisoning and eventually death.

Impact since inception

Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions: There is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Adopting environmentally-friendly technologies in our production has helped reduce production time from 3 days to 9 hours day shift. Economic benefits: Our factory demonstrate its impact by its economic benefits it brings to our local community. This includes the creation of jobs for over 1000 farmers, 50 youths and women both full time and part time staffs, paying our tax to the government and the reduction of operating costs for the factory, which could potentially be passed on to consumers in the form of lower prices.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

1000+

How is this different?

We are the only brand in Nigeria using tech enabled innovations in drying, we are also the foremost producers of beef and goatmeat kilishi in Nigeria; hence we are able to empower chicken and goatmeat rearers in Nigeria.

Stanley Anigbogu

Nigerian

Enterprise Description

LightEd, is a socially-driven organization that provides sustainable solutions to underprivileged communities, including refugees, by utilizing clean energy, recycling e-waste and plastic waste, and promoting accessible education. Our unique value proposition lies in combining innovative technology and environmentally responsible practices, ensuring positive social and environmental impact.

What inspired you to start? 

LightEd as a social enterprise was fueled by witnessing the challenges faced by underprivileged communities, including refugees, in accessing basic necessities like education, safety, and clean energy. We saw the potential for innovative, sustainable solutions to make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of these individuals and the environment.

Impact since inception

Since its inception, our social enterprise has demonstrated significant impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals and communities. LightEd Kids has directly impacted 1,237 children in Nigeria by providing them with quality education, fostering personal growth, and increasing their opportunities for a better future. The Light for Peace project has brought solar-powered lighting solutions to over 5,000 refugees, improving their safety, security, and living conditions.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

1,237 children in Nigeria, The Light for Peace project has brought solar-powered lighting solutions to over 5,000 refugees, improving their safety, security, and living conditions.

How is this different?

Our innovation sets itself apart by offering a comprehensive, inclusive, tech-driven, and locally engaged solution that is both scalable and adaptable, ultimately allowing us to create more significant and lasting positive change for the communities we serve.

Timothy Munthali

Malawian

Enterprise Description

We process sunflower and groundnuts seeds into cooking oil.

What inspired you to start? 

I did my market research and observed the gap in the community.

Impact since inception

We have provided market for 23,000 women who are working in cooperatives and we promote their life’s through the quota agreement we make.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

23,000 women

How is this different?

We are working with women cooperatives and using Solar powered machinery.

Paul Nnaluo

NIGERIAN

Enterprise Description

Gasmonkey’s Smart Cylinder connects millions to uninterrupted LPG and rLPG (renewable Liquified Petroleum Gas) without a physical pipeline via their smartphones. The World’s First Smart Gas Cylinder is more than just a container for carrying liquified gases. It’s like connecting to the gas grid/pipeline but for a fraction of the cost, even more flexible for the users and the entire energy industry. G-Surf, our Ai/cloud platform in charge of monitoring and controlling smart devices and appliances and mining millions of data points generated is pending patents. Every connected gas cylinder represents a pipeline connection, sending live data to our AI-powered cloud (G-surf). AI enables the smart cylinders to use gathered big data to better analyze, learn and make decisions without the need for a human.

What inspired you to start? 

My family was part of the 799 million people in Africa in the 90s that relied 100% on fuelwood for cooking. This experience left my family with scars, we lost 5 of 9 kids under the age of 2 to childhood pneumonia, believed to have been caused by cooking smoke. I am a mechanical engineer with an incredible mind for problem-solving. My co-founder, Matthew’s lifelong desire to build electronics, machines and everything else gave birth to a perfect team. It is us trying to make gas usable and accessible to everyone.

Impact since inception

Our minimum viable product served over 200 households, saved 6 hectares of forest (2 hectares annually), and preserved about 600 square meters of forest.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

200+ 

How is this different?

Our innovation is different because we are a Tech enabled social enterprise that is initiating a Referral Multisided Platform named TECTs, that connects frontline healthcare workers (service providers) with victims of the social problems we are tackling. We are creating this platform in response to fear of stigma, discrimination and other major impediments in providing and accessing quality treatment services and support that can help a good number of victims of drugs, mental health and human trafficking in the country.

Oluwaseyi Moejoh

Nigerian

Enterprise Description

U-recycle Initiative Africa is an award-winning youth-led NGO that is dedicated to advancing environmental education, a circular economy, and climate action in Africa. In view of tackling plastic pollution, we employ a multidimensional approach that involves implementing transformative behavioral change campaigns, advancing environmental education and deploying capacity building projects. These strategies are designed to inspire young people to take action and become problem-solvers in the fight against plastic pollution and its intersection with climate change and ocean conservation through projects like fellowships, bootcamps, workshops, mentorship programs and more.

What inspired you to start? 

Driven by the existential need and urgency to proffer sustainable solutions to the issue of the Plastic pollution crisis in Nigeria and Africa, over the last five years, Oluwaseyi Moejoh has been on a mission to mitigate plastic pollution and its intersection with climate change whilst advancing ocean conservation.

Impact since inception

Through our capacity-building programs; We have trained over 199 teens, empowered 187 youths and inducted 36 fellows with knowledge and skills to develop tide-turning solutions geared towards tackling pressing global issues like plastic pollution and climate change. Some of these emerging youth leaders within our network have utilized the knowledge and skills we provided them with to launch projects, organizations, businesses, and campaigns whilst others have co-created or improved solutions on previously existing projects and organizations. All of these have been geared towards addressing the issue of plastic pollution and its intersection with climate change. Through our waste-to-value projects we have convert(up-cycled) over 4,000 discarded plastic bottles into functional monuments like outdoor seats/artworks for 6 schools across Nigeria.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

As of December 2022 we have deployed over 50 projects engaging over 10,200 youths across 14 states in Nigeria and 11 African countries.

How is this different?

Our innovation is clearly defined and shaped around three major pillars

  1. Environmental education(EE): through the use of comprehensive and dynamic EE projects, U-recycle Initiative guides youths to learn more about environmental issues, grasp the inherent significance of the environment to human existence, and take action (on a personal basis and more broadly) to safeguard the environment for present and future generations. 
  2. Empowering Youth/Capacity Building: we are keen on galvanizing youth action, by empowering youth with relevant skills, knowledge, tools and opportunities they need to create or advocate for solutions to environmental issues in their communities.
  3. Create Value: U-recycle Initiative transforms WASTE (that causes a menace) into VALUE through implementing creative recycling & upcycling projects.

Joshua Attat

Nigerian

Enterprise Description

Printy & Packer recycle waste(agricultural, textile, paper, water hyacinths) and algae into eco-friendly sustainable packaging materials such as plastic & paper bags that are 100% tree-free, biodegradable & compostable. Our products neither contribute to deforestation nor environmental pollution like tree-based paper and petroleum-derived plastics respectively.

What inspired you to start? 

Plastic pollution has caused myriads of problems to humans, animals and the environment as a whole: flooding, pollution of land and marine environments, death of land & marine life when they ingest the plastic, pollution of ground water, etc. The only alternative to plastic considered eco-friendly is tree-based paper packaging(paper packaging made from cutting down trees & extracting their fibers) – that industry is responsible for over 40% of global deforestation and deforestation is a major driver of global warming & climate change.

It was clear there was a huge need for packaging solutions that are 100% eco-friendly and do not in any way contribute to environmental pollution and climate change.

Impact since inception

We’ve created 10 direct jobs and over 200 indirect jobs: this spans from waste collection, transportation, processing and distribution. We’ve saved over 16 trees & the biodiversity that lives in them and replaced a ton of traditional plastic & paper packaging with our eco-friendly sustainable alternatives.

Number of beneficiaries since inception

200+

How is this different?

Our packaging materials are 100% tree-free, biodegradable and compostable: they’re not made from trees, they biodegrade within weeks and can also be recycled into fertilizer in a compost bin or compost facility. Our products do not harm the environment, rather they benefit the environment.