A Kenyan based company that converts food waste into organic fertiliser is among 10 organisations in Africa that will benefit from US$50,000 (Sh7.5 million) seed funding from Sahara Group to improve their businesses.
The Kenyan smart hub company -EcoRich Solutions- has benefited from the fund owing to its innovations in usage of waste to develop organic fertiliser which is 75 per cent cheaper than normal fertiliser enabling African smallholder farmers to increase their yields.
A statement to newsrooms indicates that during the awarding ceremony conducted in Nigeria recently, 10 smart companies out of 20 that submitted their applications in the fellowship each received US$5,000 (Sh755, 500).
The seed funding was established to empower young African social innovators whose enterprises are dedicated to improving access to clean energy and sustainable environments across the continent.
This being the third year of the programme, the Sahara Impact Fund Fellowship welcomed a total of 20 Fellows from various African countries who participated in a rigorous six-month fellowship.
In her remarks on behalf of the graduating fellows, Ecorich Solutions Limited founder Joyce Rugano thanked Sahara Group Foundation, and LEAP Africa for the inspiring learning experience.
She expressed gratitude for the invaluable knowledge and skills acquired during the fellowship and pledged to utilize them for meaningful change.
The fellows applied for the funding through the Sahara Impact Fund (SIF) Fellowship programme which is a corporate social sustainability vehicle for Sahara Group (SG).
SG is a leading international energy and infrastructure conglomerate with operations in over 42 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
During the programme’s closing ceremony in Nigeria, the director, Sahara Group Foundation, Ejiro Gray, commended the fellows for their remarkable dedication and resilience throughout the program.
Gray emphasized that, “The Sahara Impact Fund Fellowship Programme was established to bolster Africa’s development by identifying and empowering young, creative social innovators working to create sustainable environments and bridge the energy gap in Africa.”
Gray congratulated all 20 Fellows for their program completion and urged them to apply the knowledge and experiences gained to deliver lasting impact across Africa through their businesses.
The top ten recipients of this year’s seed funding across East Africa include: Joyce Rugano, Founder, EcoRich Solutions (Kenya), Ainomugisha Shifra, Founding Director, SOLAFAM Uganda (Uganda); Philipo Kitungano, Founder, Kigoma Eco-cultural Tourism Enterprise (Tanzania); Jolis Nduwimana, Executive Director, WEGE Company (Burundi); Andrew Mpashi, Co-Founder, Twalima Agro Solutions Limited (Zambia); Timothy Munthali, Founder, Tawonga Cooking Oil Processing Enterprise (Malawi).
Others are: Kehinde Fashola, Founder, Fizzle Power Tech Limited (Nigeria); Muofhe Ratshikombo, CEO, Oumie’s Grandè (South Africa); Paul Nnaluo, Founder, Gas Monkey (Nigeria); Muideen Adegoke, Founder, DigitAgric Integrated Limited (Nigeria).
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Director, LEAP Africa, Kehinde Ayeni, congratulated the Fellows for their successful programme completion and encouraged them to persevere in their commitment to innovation and social progress.
She emphasized that the investment in their growth by Sahara Group Foundation and LEAP Africa reflects confidence in their potential and the power of their ideas to advance Africa’s development.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
