Sahara
Foundation, the personal and corporate social responsibility vehicle for Sahara
Group has announced the award of $5000 each as seed funding to African social
innovators who have successfully completed its 2022 Sahara Impact Fund (SIF)
Fellowship programme.
The beneficiaries
of the seed funding include Ayilara Assurance Oluchi, CEO of OnePad Reusable Pad, Nigeria; Lamin Ceesay, CEO of Karakunku Farm, the Gambia; Aminu Moses Rex, CEO
Delfak Nigeria Ltd; Claude Albert
Moghomaye, CEO, Bertec, Cameroon; Michael Osumune, CEO, Moon Innovations, Nigeria; Adeyemi Tunde,
Ceo, D-Olivette Global Enterprise, Nigeria and Olawale Thompson, CEO, Planet Savers Global Ltd, Nigeria.
Other beneficiaries
include James Thuch Madhier, South-Sudan; Ligare Allan, Kenya; Siwelwa Lazarous, Zambia; and Gerasia Laurent Andrea, Tanzania.
The three-month Fellowship was organized by Sahara Foundation in
collaboration with LEAP AFRICA, a youth-focused
leadership development nonprofit organization; and Impact Amplifier, a social
enterprise that accelerates the investment readiness, growth and capital
provision of high impact, innovative social enterprises in Africa.
The objective of the Fellowship is to better
equip African social entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skill sets required
to build sustainable businesses, capable of addressing the continent’s
challenges. Faced with challenges such as inadequate energy, waste management,
unemployment, poverty, climate challenges occasioned by drought, flooding,
extreme heat etc. These African social innovators are helping to address Africa’s
social economic issues with their business models.
The need to accelerate Africa’s growth in
access to energy and promote sustainable environments across the continent, inspired
the creation of the Sahara Impact Fund Fellowship programme. We believe that Africa’s
biggest challenges need diverse, local problem solvers and Sahara Foundation is
helping to identify and empower these social solution providers.
Speaking on the motivation behind the Fund during
the SIF close out ceremony, Pearl Uzokwe, Director, Sahara Foundation commented
that Sahara Foundation is committed to impacting lives and building sustainable
societies across Africa. She said, “The Sahara Impact Fund was set up to help
close the gap in energy equality in Africa, as well as promote sustainable
environment through the empowerment of creative social entrepreneurs working to
move Africa from a continent of potentials to actualization”. Uzokwe urged the
social entrepreneurs to use the training and funds received from the programme
to advance their business dreams and congratulated all 21 Fellows who
participated in this year’s programme.
Also addressing the Fellows at the close out
ceremony, Ndidi Nwuneli, Founder, Leap Africa, congratulated the Fellows for
successfully completing the programme. Nwuneli implored them to make good use
of the knowledge acquired and help improve Africa’s development with their
ideas and abilities. She also thanked Sahara Foundation for powering this
initiative and commended their commitment to advancing Social Development Goal
(SDG) 17 - Partnership for the Goals.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Lazarous
Siwelwa from Zambia, expressed excitement and gratitude on behalf of the 2022
Fellows. Siwelwa thanked Sahara Foundation, Leap Africa, and Impact Amplifier
for putting together such a rewarding experience that exposed them to quality
business knowledge, tools, and networks guaranteed to impact their businesses
for good.
In closing, Uzokwe speaking to the Fellows
again, stated, “This is not the end”. The Sahara Foundation is looking to
continue this relationship and we urge you all as ambassadors to go out there
and strengthen your businesses and each other. Leverage this network and build
impactful social enterprises. As social entrepreneurs, Africa’s future depends
on your actions today.
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