Sahara Group Foundation earmarks N100m for community business hubs

The Sahara Group Foundation has expanded its corporate social intervention with the launch of the Sahara Community Impact Project (SCIP), a flagship initiative aimed at enhancing economic transformation through community-driven entrepreneurship. Through the SCIP, the Foundation would create business hubs across communities to empower local entrepreneurs, create jobs, and build resilient value chains. “At Sahara […]

The Sahara Group Foundation has expanded its corporate social intervention with the launch of the Sahara Community Impact Project (SCIP), a flagship initiative aimed at enhancing economic transformation through community-driven entrepreneurship.

Through the SCIP, the Foundation would create business hubs across communities to empower local entrepreneurs, create jobs, and build resilient value chains.

“At Sahara Group Foundation, we define impact as the ability to drive real, sustainable transformation in the lives of individuals and the communities we serve. SCIP embodies this vision by creating business hubs that not only empower local entrepreneurs but also propel economic resilience and innovation across Africa,” said Chidilim Menakaya, Director, Sahara Group Foundation.

Sahara Group Foundation is the social impact division of Sahara Group, a leading international energy and infrastructure conglomerate.

At a media briefing in Lagos to unveil the project, Menakaya explained that the community business hubs will leverage local economic niches to foster entrepreneurship and empower small businesses.

She stated that the project is kicking off with N100 million for the pilot phase with people nominating their communities across Nigeria.

According to her, Sahara Group continues to serve communities globally with which it operates through various projects.

“For all our businesses across the group, we implement one project to touch on the communities. With this SCIP, we are going to build business hubs within communities but leveraging on their niches, and we want to create pipelines for entrepreneurs,” she said.

Daily Trust reports that SCIP will pilot in Nigeria and is designed to be scalable and replicable across Africa, setting a new standard for corporate social investment.

SCIP officially kicks off in January 2026 when it will be open to receive applications from communities or entrepreneurs through Sahara Group Foundation’s official channels.

After thorough reviews, selected participants will undergo training and mentorship to strengthen their business models. SCIP is guided by an in-built assessment procedure that ensures sustainability and measurable impact.

The Community Business Hubs will provide shared processing and production facilities to reduce costs, improve product quality, offer training and capacity-building in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, branding and digital skills, and strengthen market access through collective visibility and structured value chains. The hubs will also enhance access to financing via partnerships with financial institutions.

Head, Corporate Communications, Sahara Group, Bethel Obioma said the Sahara Group foundation is always intentional about creating impact.

“SCIP is more than a project; it is a commitment to building sustainable communities through capacity building, job creation, and strategic partnerships. By reducing resource waste and improving production efficiency, Sahara is laying the foundation for a future where communities can compete globally while preserving local identity.”

According to David Ayinde, Project lead Sahara Group foundation, the community referral call will go live in Q1 2026.

“Through sustained media reports and collaborative participation and support from all stakeholders, we envision SCIP becoming a beacon of sustainable development, empowering communities to grow from within,” he said.