Sahara Group, the international energy and infrastructure conglomerate, introduced its new community-impact initiative, SCIP, on Wednesday. At the unveiling held at the company’s Lagos head office, the Director of the Sahara Group Foundation, Chidilim Menakaya, explained that the Sahara Community Impact Project aims to build business hubs within local communities by tapping into their unique strengths and economic activities.
Menakaya described the project as one of the foundation’s key ways of contributing to society and supporting the people it serves. She said Sahara operates globally, and every arm of the organisation delivers what it calls Personal Social Corporate Responsibility projects to give back to the communities where it operates.
She explained that SCIP focuses on creating sustainable communities through what she referred to as “extrapreneurship.” The foundation plans to identify the businesses each community is known for and create hubs that will help those businesses grow and operate sustainably.
The project will help individuals and groups expand their economic capacity beyond traditional, limited opportunities. Communities involved in local but under-supported economic activities—such as fishing, cassava processing, water hyacinth crafts, and related value chains—will benefit first.
Menakaya said the hubs will provide capacity-building programmes, access to markets, improved production techniques, and financial linkages. She added that Sahara wants to build a pipeline of entrepreneurs who can scale their businesses, remain within the foundation’s network, and eventually grow into intergenerational enterprises. Whether the output is smoked fish, fish powder, tapioca, or water hyacinth crafts, the foundation plans to ensure every product meets quality standards, stays competitive, and is produced responsibly.
She announced plans to introduce modern tools and safer production methods, including solar-powered cold rooms, dehydrators, cleaner fish-smoking stoves, mechanised cassava processing systems, and improved life jackets for fishing communities. The initiative will also convert spoilt food products into manure to reduce waste and support farmers, strengthening entire value chains.
Sahara Group Foundation plans to launch SCIP in January 2026, start nomination and screening exercises in February, and follow with community sensitisation and impact assessments. The hubs will be co-managed with local residents to ensure long-term ownership and sustainability. Menakaya said the foundation will train community members to operate and maintain the hubs because projects only succeed when people take full ownership.
She also emphasised the importance of strict monitoring and evaluation to prevent local power brokers from hijacking the initiative. The foundation will ensure transparency so that every qualified member of the community can benefit. She added that Sahara Group Foundation stays involved in its projects to ensure they create measurable and lasting impact.
The foundation expects to unveil the first set of hubs once the assessment phase is completed, followed by the start of full operations. Sahara Group’s Head of Corporate Communications, Bethel Obioma, added that SCIP focuses on transforming underserved rural communities. He said developing these areas will eventually create positive ripple effects for cities and the country as a whole.
