INTRODUCTION
Sahara Group Foundation proudly looks back on a remarkable first half of the year, marked by impactful initiatives, meaningful engagements and an unwavering dedication to driving positive change. With an unshakeable commitment to creating a better future for all, the foundation has tirelessly championed sustainable development across diverse regions, touching countless lives and communities.
GO RECYCLING
In the first half of the year, we expanded our recycling program by introducing two new GO- Recycling hubs in the Ikorodu Local Government Area, bringing the total number of hubs to eight. These new additions join our existing recycling hubs in six other Local Government Areas: Isolo, Igando-Ikotun, Lagos-Island, Onigbongbo, Ifako-Ijaiye and Apapa-Iganmu.
This impactful initiative is the result of a dynamic collaboration between the Sahara Group Foundation and its implementing partners; Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Ibile Oil and Gas and WEcyclers, demonstrating the collective power of public-private partnerships in driving sustainable change and improving lives.
GO Recycling hubs and users across Lagos State are
TOTAL: 539
Total materials collected across Lagos State in Kilogram (KG)
TOTAL: 76127.2kg
IJORA HUB
TOTAL: 32545.2kg
Number of users: 276
SAHARA IMPACT FUND
Our esteemed Fellows and grant beneficiaries of the Sahara Impact Fund have consistently demonstrated exceptional performance and impressive scalability across their diverse ventures. With a footprint spanning Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, South Africa, Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia, these entrepreneurs have not only expanded their businesses but also driven sustainable development in Africa.
SAHARA STEAMERS
The Sahara STEAMers initiative has successfully nurtured the minds of Africa’s future innovators, impacting over 200 students across Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The program concluded in a regional competition in February 2024, showcasing the students’ remarkable talent and innovation.
The top honors went to Team Imperial Tech from Rise and Shine Secondary School in Uganda, who developed a Soil Moisture Detector to optimize soil quality and agricultural productivity.
SAHARA STEAMERS
The Sahara STEAMers initiative has successfully nurtured the minds of Africa’s future innovators, impacting over 200 students across Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The program concluded in a regional competition in February 2024, showcasing the students’ remarkable talent and innovation.
Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.
Nigeria
•Oshodi High School, Lagos
•Igbobi Boys College, Yaba, Lagos
Uganda
•Rise and Shine Secondary School, Ntinda
•Mariam High School, Kampala
Kenya
•Olympic High School, Nairobi
•St Georges Secondary School, Nairobi
Tanzania
•Tambaza Secondary School, Dar es Salam
•Kisutu Secondary School, Dar es Salam
SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE
Sahara Group Foundation in alignment with the sustainable development goal 3- good health and well-being, has invested in ensuring healthy lives and promoting well being for all at all ages in the communities we operate. In 2020, the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic necessitated value addition in access to quality healthcare in Nigeria. As the country’s infection rates spiked, a consortium of private sector organizations spearheaded by Sahara Group set up a 360-bed isolation and treatment centre at the THISDAY Dome in FCT, Abuja.
SUSTAINABLE POLICING
The Nigerian Police Force play a vital role in ensuring the safety and security of its citizens, and upholding justice. As the frontline guardians of our communities, they work tirelessly to prevent and investigate crimes, respond to emergencies and provide support in times of need. As part of our ongoing commitment to support the Police, Sahara Group Foundation installed 28 high-capacity energy efficient solar floodlights at the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja, enhancing the safety and security of the facility and enabling the police to better serve and protect the communities.
OUR PCSR INITIATIVES Q1
EMPOWERING SUSTAINABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Supporting orphanages is a selfless act that brings hope and joy to vulnerable children, providing them with the resources, care, and love needed to overcome adversity and reach their full potential.
Asharami Synergy Senegal made a significant impact at the DAARAY Sergine Saliou Mbacke Orphanage by installing a solar power system, providing clean and renewable energy. This initiative has eliminated the orphanage’s substantial monthly electricity bill of approximately 500,000.00 FCFA, previously one of their highest expenses.
The saved funds will now be invested in developing the land into a sustainable farm, guiding the orphanage towards self-dependence. Additionally, the farm will offer short-term training and income opportunities for the children, helping them develop valuable skills and easing their reintegration into society
SHARING BAGS OF LOVE
Sahara Energy Trade Singapore demonstrated its commitment to giving back to the community by partnering with Bukit Batok Community Centre to distribute “Bags of Love” to 170 seniors in need.
This heartwarming initiative brought joy, hope, and essential items to the recipients, making a tangible difference in their lives. Each thoughtfully prepared bag contained a curated selection of dry and canned food, beverages, personal hygiene products, and useful household items, carefully chosen to provide comfort and support.
Through this project, Sahara Energy Trade Singapore showed its dedication to spreading love, kindness, and compassion, and its efforts had a profound impact on the community, leaving a lasting smile on the faces of the seniors who received these special bags.
EMPOWERING SUSTAINABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Supporting orphanages is a selfless act that brings hope and joy to vulnerable children, providing them with the resources, care, and love needed to overcome adversity and reach their full potential.
Asharami Synergy Senegal made a significant impact at the DAARAY Sergine Saliou Mbacke Orphanage by installing a solar power system, providing clean and renewable energy. This initiative has eliminated the orphanage’s substantial monthly electricity bill of approximately 500,000.00 FCFA, previously one of their highest expenses.
The saved funds will now be invested in developing the land into a sustainable farm, guiding the orphanage towards self-dependence. Additionally, the farm will offer short-term training and income opportunities for the children, helping them develop valuable skills and easing their reintegration into society
SHARING BAGS OF LOVE
Sahara Energy Trade Singapore demonstrated its commitment to giving back to the community by partnering with Bukit Batok Community Centre to distribute “Bags of Love” to 170 seniors in need.
This heartwarming initiative brought joy, hope, and essential items to the recipients, making a tangible difference in their lives. Each thoughtfully prepared bag contained a curated selection of dry and canned food, beverages, personal hygiene products, and useful household items, carefully chosen to provide comfort and support.
Through this project, Sahara Energy Trade Singapore showed its dedication to spreading love, kindness, and compassion, and its efforts had a profound impact on the community, leaving a lasting smile on the faces of the seniors who received these special bags.
OUR VOLUNTEERS' CORNER
Sahara Impact Fund
The Sahara Impact Fund Programme in partnership with Leap Africa and Impact Amplifier, was designed in 2020 to support innovative social enterprises and startups across Africa. The programme provides financial grants, mentorship, and technical expertise to budding entrepreneurs who are addressing societal challenges in sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and renewable energy, among others. At the end of the programme, outstanding fellows are awarded a $5,000 seed funding to support their business expansion plans.
STEAMERS
The STEAMers Programme is Sahara Group Foundation’s commitment to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education among young inventors. By providing access to quality STEAM education, the initiative in partnership with STEMCafe equips students with practical skills needed to excel in the modern world.
In 2023, about 200 students from four African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, were able to provide innovative solutions to problems in their local communities. From a young age, we are grooming them to become world problem solvers.
Go-Recycling
As a result of the impact of our Ijora Recycling hub launched in 2021, we launched our Go-Recycling project in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), IBILE OIL & GAS and Wecyclers in January 2023. The project is aimed at addressing the issue of plastic pollution in Lagos state and motivate a movement of environmentally conscious Lagosians. Through this project, Lagosians are given a unique opportunity to turn their waste to wealth when they swap recyclables such as pet plastics, pure water sachets, plastic chairs & tables, paper, cardboard, HDPE, LDPE, can bottles, and glass bottles, for cash incentives. We have successfully set up 12 recycling hubs across Isolo LCDA, Igando-Ikotun LCDA, Lagos Island LCDA, Onigbogbon LCDA, Apapa LCDA, Ifako-Ijaye LCDA, Yaba LCDA.
Go-Recycling
As a result of the impact of our Ijora Recycling hub launched in 2021, we launched our Go-Recycling project in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), IBILE OIL & GAS and Wecyclers in January 2023. The project is aimed at addressing the issue of plastic pollution in Lagos state and motivate a movement of environmentally conscious Lagosians. Through this project, Lagosians are given a unique opportunity to turn their waste to wealth when they swap recyclables such as pet plastics, pure water sachets, plastic chairs & tables, paper, cardboard, HDPE, LDPE, can bottles, and glass bottles, for cash incentives. We have successfully set up 12 recycling hubs across Isolo LCDA, Igando-Ikotun LCDA, Lagos Island LCDA, Onigbogbon LCDA, Apapa LCDA, Ifako-Ijaye LCDA, Yaba LCDA.
Police Station Revamp
In the past year, the Sahara Group Foundation continued in its effort to enhance security operations and promote effective policing across communities in Nigeria. The beneficiary police stations who got renovated, solar systems upgrade, and infrastructure development include: MMA1 (Beesam) police station, Ijede police station, Ijora police station, Trinity police command, Ajuwon police station, Onipanu police station, Shomolu Mushin police station, Ipaja police station, Pedro police station, Omagwa police station, Ologbo police station, Onne police station, and Koko police station.
All Round Scholarship Program
Over the years, Sahara Group Foundation through its implementing partner- Murtala Mohammed Foundation has been supporting internally displaced persons with scholarships across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels in the Northeastern part of Nigeria. In 2023, we recorded the successful graduation of some of our scholars who are on the path to fulfilling their dreams.
Donation to UBTH
In furtherance of our commitment towards improving lives and livelihoods, we donated state-of-the-art medical equipment to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Edo State, Nigeria. The donation is a fulfilment of our pledge to give medical equipment provided by Sahara Group Foundation to shore up response operations at the ThisDay Dome Covid-19 Isolation and Treatment Centre in FCT- Abuja – a 360-bed facility that became the model for other isolation centres in Nigeria. The donated items include a dialysis machine, automatic dialysis chair, suction units, monitors, oxygen tanks, medical bed, manual ICU medical beds, and drip stand, among others.
LETTER FROM OUR DIRECTOR
Ejiro Gray
Director, Sahara Group Foundation
Improving lives and the livelihoods of our host communities is at the core of our existence as a Foundation. Sahara Group Foundation is committed to providing support to access to clean energy and building sustainable environments, and this is evident across all our projects and initiatives carried out in the just concluded year.
