Sahara Group Foundation Unveils SCIP to Enhance Community-Led Economic Growth Across Africa

Lagos, Nigeria December 10, 2025

The Sahara Group Foundation has unveiled the Sahara Community Impact Project (SCIP), a transformative initiative designed to foster sustainable, community-led entrepreneurship and economic growth across Africa.

With over 2.18 million social enterprises generating $96 billion in annual revenue and creating at least 12 million jobs, according to the World Economic Forum, community-driven models are proving essential for Africa’s future.

“Through SCIP, we are bringing resources, skills, and opportunities directly into the heart of each community, enabling entrepreneurs to scale, strengthening local value chains, and laying the foundation for truly sustainable, locally led economic growth,” said Chidilim Menakaya, Director, Sahara Group Foundation at the official launch of SCIP in Lagos, Nigeria.

Menakaya said SCIP hubs will serve as engines for job creation, and long-term business sustainability, leveraging Sahara’s EXTRApreneurship model to empower individuals and reduce resource waste.

Bethel Obioma, Head, Corporate Communications at Sahara Group said SCIP would pilot in Nigeria and ultimately become the template for replicating similar interventions to kick-start “community-led economic transformation across Africa.”

“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.”

SCIP will be open to receive applications from communities or entrepreneurs from January 2026, 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.

Sahara Group Foundation urged media partners, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and the public to join in amplifying the transformative initiative.

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”.

For more information about SCIP and the EXTRApreneurship initiatives of Sahara Group Foundation, please visit: www.saharagroupfoundation.org.