SIFAX Group Impacts 3,500 Nigerians Through Nationwide CSR Initiatives

Leading maritime and logistics giant, SIFAX Group, has once again demonstrated its commitment to social responsibility and community development, announcing that about 3,500 vulnerable Nigerians benefitted from its wide-ranging corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects between July and August 2025.

The interventions, executed through the company’s philanthropic arm, the Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF), and in collaboration with key local and international partners, cut across education, healthcare, vocational training, and direct community empowerment.

July Interventions: Touching Over 3,000 Lives

In July, the foundation reached 3,083 individuals nationwide. The support covered diverse groups, including widows, children, voluntary returnees from abroad, and persons with disabilities.

Highlights of the interventions included:

• Healthcare Outreach – Over 639 people in Lagos, Isade, and Zaria received free healthcare services.
• Vocational Training – About 1,398 women, girls, and boys were trained in crocheting, tailoring, shoemaking, and bag-making to help them acquire marketable skills.
• Trader Empowerment – A one-day training was organised for petty traders in Umuahia, preparing them for an upcoming interest-free loan scheme. In Zaria, 10 traders received direct empowerment packages to scale their businesses.
• Community Project – A borehole was constructed in Agbelekale community, Lagos, providing residents with access to clean and safe water.
• Support for Returnees – In partnership with the World Bank and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), essential relief items were distributed to 750 Nigerians who voluntarily returned from abroad, easing their reintegration challenges.

  

August Interventions: Focus on Youth Skills Development

In August, SIFAX Group shifted its focus to skills acquisition for youths, partnering with NIDSMET Services to train 500 young people in Lagos. Participants gained practical experience in a wide range of areas, including confectionery, catering, textile design, photography, cosmetics, and event management.

Speaking at the grand finale of the programme in Satellite Town, Lagos, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akande, Group Head, Corporate Communications, SIFAX Group, represented by Mr. Olatunde Adewola, underscored the company’s vision of impact-driven CSR.

“At SIFAX Group, we measure success not just by profit margins but by the lives we touch and the opportunities we create. Entrepreneurship and empowerment are central to our philosophy of building a better Nigeria,” he said.

He further encouraged beneficiaries to leverage their new skills with integrity, discipline, and digital visibility to expand their businesses.

Partners and Stakeholders Commend SIFAX Group

Mr. Olabiyi Oluwole, Managing Director of NIDSMET Services, praised the company’s long-term support of the training scheme, noting that many graduates from past editions are today employers of labour.

“SIFAX Group has consistently backed this programme, and the results speak for themselves. Many of our alumni are now thriving entrepreneurs contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s economy,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs. Foluke Ademokun, Coordinator of AAAF, reiterated the foundation’s dedication to alleviating hardship and empowering vulnerable groups across Nigeria.

“From scholarships for widows’ children to livelihood support for women, our goal is to create sustainable solutions that directly address poverty and social inequality,” she stressed.

CSR as a Pillar for National Development

Analysts say SIFAX Group’s CSR activities mirror the growing role of private sector organisations in filling developmental gaps and supporting government efforts in poverty alleviation, skills development, and community upliftment.

By touching the lives of thousands through healthcare, education, skills empowerment, and infrastructure, SIFAX Group is reinforcing its reputation as not just a business conglomerate but a nation-building partner committed to inclusive growth.