Sahara Foundation takes waste-to-wealth drive to North

The Sahara Group Foundation has expanded its waste-to-wealth initiative to Northern Nigeria with the commissioning of a new Sahara Go Recycling Hub in Masaka, Nasarawa State.

The foundation said in a statement on Sunday that the facility, delivered in partnership with the Nasarawa State Waste Management Authority, represented a major step in extending structured recycling access to communities in the northern part of the country while advancing sustainable waste management practices.

According to the foundation, the Sahara Go Recycling Initiative converts waste management into opportunity by helping to divert recyclable materials from landfills, improve environmental awareness and create income opportunities for households.

It noted that the Masaka hub would further strengthen these efforts while aligning with its vision of building sustainable ecosystems that deliver long-term value for people, communities and the environment.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Director of Sahara Group Foundation, Chidilim Menakaya, said the launch reflected the foundation’s commitment to developing scalable solutions that combine environmental sustainability with community empowerment.

“Masaka represents an important next step in expanding access to sustainable waste management across Nigeria.

“Through the Sahara Go Recycling initiative, we are showing how collaboration can unlock cleaner communities, stronger livelihoods, and shared prosperity. This is the kind of practical, inclusive impact that Sahara Beyond XXX stands for, creating sustainable value at scale through EXTRApreneurship,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Director of Waste Management at the Nasarawa State Waste Management Authority, Mr Ishaku Ibrahim, described the project as a timely intervention that would strengthen responsible waste management and create economic opportunities for residents.

“This hub brings a practical solution to waste challenges in Masaka and surrounding communities. Beyond improving environmental outcomes, it creates a pathway for residents to participate in a cleaner future while deriving economic value from recyclable materials. We are proud to partner with Sahara Group Foundation on this important step for Nasarawa State,” Ibrahim said.

Menakaya further noted that the Sahara Go Recycling initiative had continued to demonstrate how collective action could help build cleaner and more resilient communities through innovation, collaboration and active local participation.

The foundation disclosed that since its launch, the programme had recorded significant social, economic and environmental impact across communities where it operates.

According to the foundation, more than 1,000 tonnes of recyclable materials have been processed through the initiative, while over 2,000 livelihoods have been directly and indirectly impacted across collection, sorting, logistics and community enterprise value chains.

It added that by turning waste into opportunity, the programme was helping to reshape public attitudes towards recycling and encouraging more sustainable lifestyles, particularly in underserved communities.

The commissioning of the Masaka hub forms part of the foundation’s broader plan to expand the Sahara Go Recycling initiative across Nigeria as it continues to promote sustainable communities through EXTRApreneurship.

The ceremony attracted representatives of Sahara Group and Sahara Group Foundation, officials of the Nasarawa State Waste Management Authority, local council representatives, community leaders, partners, volunteers and residents,

underscoring broad stakeholder support for the initiative.