In the execution of its social responsibility, Tenke Fungurume Mining has signed a specification of USD 31.194 million with its local community. The ultimate goal is to create sustainability through integrated development projects. Among other projects included in this objective, the project to develop an integrated agricultural center of the Songhai model.

The outskirts of the Mumena village of the Nguba group have been chosen as the pilot area from which this project will start. This project, launched on Thursday 20 February, will offer the community privileged access to innovations, particularly in the agricultural sector. These will include new agricultural practices, livestock farming, fish farming and agroforestry, the processing of agricultural products, product marketing techniques, etc. Driven by the joy of seeing this major project of TFM's specifications finally launched, the population accompanied the local authorities and those of TFM to the project site, 60 hectares wide. There, a traditional ritual was conducted by the Mwami Nguba, surrounded by the village chiefs Shonongo and Mumena, imploring the blessing of the ancestors for the success of the project. CPO Wu Shenggen, who represented the company, revealed that "this project will contribute to local communities being resilient. TFM will send 12 people from the community to the Songhai center in Benin next month for a 3-month training." This will provide them with solid knowledge to manage the beginnings of this centre, which is intended to extend over the entire dealership, and even beyond. The CEO of the Songhai Center, Godfrey Nzamujo, joining the CPO, recalled that "the construction of social infrastructure" is a vital part of the project. This is indeed the continuous empowerment of the actors who will animate the center, in order to ensure its smooth running and guarantee the achievement of its objectives. Like the CPO, he called on the population to take ownership of this project.

And the next day, a press conference followed. During the question and answer session, the CEO of the Songhai Center along with Professor Édouard Swana, Director of Community Relations, unveiled all the details of the project in front of the press of Fungurume and Tenke, as well as representatives of the two CLDs of the community and other stakeholders. "The specifications include several sectors, including economic development. This one has a budget of 8.484 million USD," recalled Édouard Swana. This sector includes several projects, including agricultural projects, such as the annual purchase of agricultural inputs for the 1500 hectares sown, the purchase of agricultural tractors. "One of the tractors among the 9 purchased is intended for this project," he said.

Presenting the project in a conceptual way, Godfrey Nzamujo affirms that Songhai's mission is to emancipate the community "from economic equations that are not endogenous to Africa, that do not belong to African, and which, therefore, are the basis of our underdevelopment in Africa". For him, "poverty is our inability to see the possibilities around us." Thus, articulated on three pillars, namely biotechnologies, infotech, renewable energy, the Songhai center places particular emphasis on training. It will therefore be an incubator, a capacity incubator, which will allow more capacity building for young people, with the eventual establishment of a solid entrepreneurial ecosystem. An effective tool to fight poverty. Also, with the social and physical infrastructure inspired by new technologies, the center will produce more at a lower cost based on the principles of the green economy. This project to develop an integrated agricultural center will generate environmental, social and economic wealth, contributing to the recovery of the community in a sustainable way and consolidating its capacity for resilience.