Sahara Group champions sustainability research at UNILAG through ‘M.A.D’ grants
Business a.m.
Leading global energy and infrastructure conglomerate, Sahara Group, has announced the first recipients of the ‘Sahara Making A Difference (M.A.D) Grant’ which was instituted at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to support research geared towards driving innovation and sustainable energy solutions.
Unveiling the recipients of the Sahara M.A.D Grant was one of the highpoints of the 55th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Lagos, reinforcing the commitment of Sahara to investing in sustainable development through strategic town-gown relations. Sahara Group also awarded cash prizes to exceptional students in Economics, Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Finance, Business Management, Library and Information Science, Insurance, and Artificial Intelligence/Tech Innovation.
Recipientsof the Sahara M.A.D Grant include Gbeminiyi Sobamowo, Ayodele Ibrahim Shittu, and Peter Amah. Their work spans energy systems modelling, entrepreneurship and innovation economics, and financial investment literacy—critical areas for advancing Africa’s energy and economic landscape. The grant includes a total of $36,000 annually ($12,000 per beneficiary), with well-established protocol for outcome-based management by UNILAG.
“The Sahara M.A.D grant celebrates the power of exploring ideas through research, and its potential to transform industries, create sustainable solutions, and drive Africa’s energy future. We are delighted to partner with the University of Lagos to inspire and support groundbreaking research capable of transforming access to reliable energy,” said Bethel Obioma, head, corporate communications at Sahara Group. “We believe that collaboration between industry and academia is essential to creating a hub for innovative solutions and supporting the brilliant minds who will shape the energy landscape of tomorrow,” he added.
Globally, investments in sustainable energy research and innovation are increasing, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) reporting a 10 percent rise in clean energy R&D funding in 2023 alone. However, Africa accounts for less than one percent of global research output, which points to the urgent need to expand funding and opportunities for groundbreaking discoveries on the continent.
Commending Sahara Group for instituting the M.A.D Grant, Folasade Ogunsola, vice chancellor, University of Lagos, FAS, said the collaboration with Sahara would set the foundation for enhancing research and scholarship. “This grant will not only advance critical research but also provide invaluable opportunities for lecturers and students to engage with everyday challenges, with prospects for solutions that will impact energy access, while securing environmental sustainability,” she said.
Sobamowo, an associate professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is working in the field Energy Systems Modelling, Simulations and Design. His Hezer Research Group comprising of lecturers and students have developed various innovative energy solutions, many of which have already received uptake. Shittu, a senior lecturer working in the field of Development Economics with a focus on the Economics of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Amah, a senior lecturer in the Department of Finance is the mentor to one of UNILAG’s flagship student-led initiatives, The Investment Society (TIS). To date, over 80 members of TIS have gone on to internship placement and employment at the Bank of America/Merill Lynch and Goldman Sachs.