The Sahara Group Foundation (SGF) has awarded over USD 130,000 to 20 innovative African entrepreneurs, dubbed “EXTRApreneurs,” under its Sahara Impact Fund (SIF) Cohort 4 and Making A Difference Around Africa (MADAA) initiatives. The awards were presented at a gala night in Lagos.
The 2025 programme cycle attracted more than 2,000 applications from across the continent. A rigorous selection process shortlisted 300 innovators for an intensive Capacity-Building Workshop, covering business strategy, governance, legal and financial advisory, brand positioning, and stakeholder engagement. From this pool, 20 high-potential entrepreneurs advanced to a Business Advisory Bootcamp and the Sahara M.A.D Den, ultimately receiving grants to scale their businesses.
According to SGF, the 2025 editions of SIF and MADAA were redesigned to bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and market entry for African entrepreneurs. “Our goal is not only to provide grants but also to offer business intelligence, financial strategy, governance discipline, and commercial readiness enabling these entrepreneurs to grow sustainably across African markets,” SGF executives stated.
Among the beneficiaries receiving USD 10,000 each were:
Chinwendu Augustina Nweke – Bridge Merchant Enterprise, Nigeria
Elvis Kadhama – Essymart Africa Business Link Limited, Uganda
Violet Awo Amoabeng – Skin Gourmet, Ghana
Tracey Shiundu – FunKe Science, Kenya
Salma Medhat – Hiryo, Egypt
Other awardees received grants of USD 5,000 and USD 1,000, supporting social enterprises across the continent. SGF emphasized that the combination of funding, mentorship, and structured advisory support aims to position the EXTRApreneurs for transformative impact and global competitiveness.
The Sahara Group Foundation continues to reinforce its commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa, supporting entrepreneurs whose ventures promise social and economic transformation. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.
