MTN Heroes of Change nominee, Ayisha Fuseini has taken shea butter production to the next level.
The 32-year-old business entrepreneur from Surogu in the Northern Regionis empowering shea butter processors in the region.
The Chief Executive Officer of Asheba Enterprise said her motivation is to help reduce the man power being put into the making of the butter and also reduce the time being put into it.
As a nominee of this year’s Heroes of Change project which has come to define the celebration of heroic Ghanaians, whose efforts are making substantial contributions in their communities, Ayisha Fuseini shares her story.
- What is your motivation?
I grew up in the community where making and selling of shea butter was the business for the women. My mother was into it too. They worked so hard for nothing. Women were not respected because, to even buy hair cream, the men are the ones they turn to. I wanted to empower women in the community and help eradicate the poverty amongst them.
- Explain your project
I constructed the processing center to help reduce the man power being put into the making of the butter and also reduce the time being put into it. I sometimes buy the nuts for the women and they do the processing or I buy the shea butter already prepared from them. After the butter has been prepared it is packaged and exported. Currently, I started adding value by making cream out of the butter.
- How do you fund the project?
Funds from “Campaign For Female Education” under the “Enovation Bursary Project” (IBP) – (2012); Engine Ghana also supported the project – (2014); “Youth Enterprise Support” also supported in -(2015) and self financed.
- How much impact has your project had?
The center is the biggest achievement which currently supports over 600 women from 10 different communities who come there to sell to us their products. I give them a ready market.
- What are your major achievements?
Women are now economically independent (which was my main aim). They have a job which brings a good income and sometimes even support their individual families. Women are no more a burden but are respected now.
- What challenges have you faced
Finance to expand the processing center and even open other centers in the other communities.
- Do you have any plans for the future?
My whole plan is to eliminate poverty and give the children of Namoo and beyond the best education they can ever have.
