Sahara Group Foundation (SGF) has entered into a strategic partnership with Plan International Nigeria to expand community-led recycling initiatives that link climate action with income generation, skills development, and gender inclusion. The agreement, formalized through a memorandum of understanding, centers on the Sahara Go Recycling Project, a waste-to-wealth programme designed to convert recyclable materials into economic value while strengthening community resilience.
The partnership brings together SGF’s experience in environmental sustainability and enterprise development with Plan International’s long-standing work in child rights, gender equality, and community development. Both organisations say the collaboration reflects a shared belief that environmental solutions must deliver tangible social and economic outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations.
At the core of the initiative is an inclusive model that prioritizes adolescent girls, who are expected to make up at least 60 percent of programme participants. The approach integrates recycling activities with livelihood creation, skills acquisition, safeguarding measures, and community engagement, positioning climate responsibility as a pathway to dignity and economic opportunity.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chidilim Menakaya, Director of SGF, said the Sahara Go Recycling Project was conceived as more than an environmental intervention. Launched in 2021, she said the initiative was designed to unlock grassroots economic opportunities by transforming waste into value and creating pathways for income generation and small enterprise development.
“Our focus has always been on inclusion, dignity, and sustainable livelihoods,” Ms. Menakaya said. “By partnering with Plan International Nigeria, we are strengthening that vision and ensuring that environmental responsibility translates into lasting economic value, social inclusion, and shared prosperity for households and communities.”
Plan International Nigeria’s Country Director, Dr. Charles Usie, said the partnership aligns closely with the organisation’s mission to advance the rights and opportunities of children and young people, especially girls. He noted that when environmental programmes are deliberately structured to support livelihoods and skills development, they can have a multiplier effect on education, household stability, and long-term community outcomes.
“This collaboration speaks to the kind of future we want to build for girls and their communities,” Dr. Usie said. “When climate action is linked to dignity and economic empowerment, girls are better positioned to learn, build skills, and contribute meaningfully to their families and society.”
Sheila Ojei, Director of Philanthropy and Resource Mobilization at Plan International Nigeria, said the agreement embeds strong safeguarding and accountability frameworks into programme delivery. According to her, the emphasis on gender inclusion is not incidental but central to the design of the initiative, ensuring that young people, particularly girls, participate in safe, healthy, and supportive environments.
The Sahara Go Recycling Project is one of four flagship initiatives under SGF, the social investment arm of Sahara Group, an international energy and infrastructure conglomerate. The programme focuses on turning recyclable waste into economic inputs while promoting environmental stewardship and inclusive economic participation. Its structure combines community engagement with enterprise development, positioning recycling as both an environmental solution and a livelihood opportunity.
Bethel Obioma, Head of Corporate Communications at Sahara Group, said the partnership reflects the company’s broader sustainability philosophy. He described sustainability as a people-centred agenda, arguing that environmental solutions must be designed to improve lives and livelihoods, not only systems and processes.
“By aligning Sahara Go Recycling with Plan International’s development expertise, we are creating a model where climate responsibility directly delivers social value,” Mr. Obioma said. “This is about ensuring that environmental action has a clear and positive impact on communities.”
Both organisations said the partnership builds on SGF’s track record of deploying innovative and scalable interventions that connect enterprise development, environmental stewardship, and social impact. They expressed optimism that the collaboration would unlock new pathways for sustainable development by integrating recycling initiatives with social protection, skills training, and inclusive economic participation.
The project is aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including responsible consumption and production, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, gender equality, quality education, and partnerships for development. By addressing these goals through a single, community-focused platform, the partners aim to demonstrate how coordinated action can deliver measurable impact.
As implementation begins, SGF and Plan International Nigeria say they will focus on scaling the model across communities, measuring outcomes, and refining approaches that link climate responsibility with economic empowerment. The partners believe the initiative can serve as a replicable framework for inclusive development, particularly in underserved areas where environmental challenges and economic vulnerability often intersect.