Sahel Capital has extended a $1.5 million working capital loan to Rasad Nigeria Limited through its Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA).
This facility, closed in early February 2026, renews and scales prior financing to support Rasad’s continued growth in the cocoa and cashew value chains.
Thee investment builds on an earlier $590,000 loan provided in 2025, reflecting sustained confidence in Rasad’s operational model and its contributions to inclusive agricultural development in Nigeria.
Rasad Nigeria, based in Ogun State, aggregates premium cocoa and cashew nuts from a network of over 1,000 smallholder farmers and local aggregators.
The company maintains disciplined supply chain management to supply both the domestic market and international buyers, navigating commodity price volatility and logistical challenges effectively.
Support for Rasad’s “Rasad 2.0” Strategic Evolution
The loan directly funds Rasad’s “Rasad 2.0” strategy, which focuses on deepening value capture and operational resilience. Key elements include:
- Establishment of Axias Global as a dedicated export trading entity to streamline international sales and enhance market access.
- Adoption of waste-reduction and circular economy practices to improve sustainability and efficiency.
- Progression toward value-added processing, enabling the company to move beyond raw commodity trading and capture higher margins through semi-processed or processed products.
These initiatives position Rasad to strengthen its role in Nigeria’s cocoa sector, where global market headwinds such as price fluctuations and supply constraints continue to challenge participants.
Deji Adebusoye, Partner at Sahel Capital, noted: “Rasad has demonstrated strong operational discipline and consistent growth since our initial investment. This increased facility reflects our confidence in the company’s execution capacity and its role in supporting inclusive growth in Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.”
Ahmed Adeagbo, Director of Strategy and Finance at Rasad, added, “Even with global headwinds in the cocoa market, our business has remained resilient. Over the past five months, we’ve run a series of experiments with very encouraging results, and we are now doubling down on them.”
Beneficiaries and Broader Sector Impact
The primary beneficiaries of this financing include:
- Smallholder farmers in Ogun State and surrounding areas, who gain access to a reliable, well-capitalised buyer offering consistent procurement cycles and fair pricing.
- Local aggregators integrated into Rasad’s network, benefiting from stable demand and improved logistics support.
- Rasad itself, through enhanced working capital that enables higher-volume purchases, expanded processing capabilities, and stronger positioning in export markets.
- Nigeria’s cocoa and cashew sectors overall, as Rasad’s growth contributes to greater supply chain stability, reduced post-harvest losses, and increased value retention within the country.
READ ALSO:
Agri-SMEs Take Centre Stage with SEFAA $10M Funding
By providing structured financing to Rasad, SEFAA addresses persistent SME financing gaps in agriculture, promoting inclusive growth and resilience in a sector critical to Nigeria’s economy and rural livelihoods.
Looking Ahead
Sahel Capital’s $1.5 million loan to Rasad Nigeria through SEFAA reinforces the viability of impact-focused financing in transforming agricultural value chains.
The facility empowers Rasad to scale its operations, advance processing capabilities, and maintain a dependable market for smallholder farmers amid challenging global conditions.
This transaction exemplifies how targeted capital can drive resilience, inclusivity, and higher value capture in Nigeria’s cocoa and cashew sectors.
As of February 6, 2026, the partnership highlights ongoing momentum in structured agri-finance across sub-Saharan Africa.
For the most current details, consult official announcements from Sahel Capital and Rasad Nigeria.
Sahel Capital Overview
Sahel Capital CEO is Glyn Lewis, who leads the firm’s investment advisory and private markets work across Africa.
Sahel Capital runs a Sahel Capital graduate program / graduate trainee program designed to develop young professionals in investment, research and advisory through structured learning and project experience.
Sahel Capital careers include roles in investment advisory, research and operations, with openings shared on the firm’s website and LinkedIn.
The firm publishes a Sahel capital impact report highlighting its work in private equity, agribusiness and sustainability outcomes.
Sahel Group refers to the broader investment and advisory platform encompassing Sahel Capital’s affiliates and regional activities.
Ronnie Paul is a seasoned writer and analyst with a prolific portfolio of over 1,000 published articles, specialising in fintech, cryptocurrency, climate change, and digital finance at Africa Digest News.
