In Africa, traditional female entrepreneurship is quite informal, but more or less widespread depending on the region. It should be noted that women entrepreneurs stood out, and still stand out today through their micro-activities whose income allows them to meet the needs of their families. Governmental, non-governmental and even international institutions have set up, over the years, several initiatives with the aim of keeping the entrepreneurial spirit of African women afloat. Some actions have been very successful and others not. This is how the gender gap (the gap between men and women) in the entrepreneurial sector is gradually narrowing.
In 2018, Senegal had the highest female entrepreneurial activity rate in Sub-Saharan Africa: 36.8%. On the other hand, 62.9% of women entrepreneurs in Senegal started doing it more out of opportunity than out of necessity (as was traditionally done). This is where we find Anta Babacar Ngom, nicknamed the Queen of the Chicken. She is an example to be followed closely.
The SEDIMA Group …
SEDIMA is a family business specializing in three (3) areas of activity: poultry farming (its core business), real estate and flour milling. The company was established in 1988 by Babacar Ngom (Anta’s father). The latter says he started with a total of 120 chicks, a budget of 60,000 FCFA, three (3) drinkers and two (2) feeders. All this “paraphernalia” was contained in a room measuring four by four meters in a house under construction of his father.
Before being under the leadership of the most prominent at the moment (Anta), SEDIMA has undergone an evolution that is interesting to know:
- 1988: the birth of SEDIMA as an Economic Interest Group (GIE)
- 1992: SEDIMA becomes a SARL
- 1997: evolution from SARL to Société Anonyme (SA) with a capital of 500 million FCFA
- 2000 – 2003: SEDIMA sees its capital grow on a regular basis
- 2013: the capital increases to 2 billion FCFA
- January 2016: Anta Babacar Ngom takes over from her father as head of the family business.
Anta Babacar Ngom and SEDIMA…
Anta Babacar Ngom sets herself the challenge of conquering new markets. This requires the diversification of activities as well as the rejuvenation of its staff. SEDIMA is investing 3 billion FCFA for the creation of the largest hatchery in French-speaking Africa. The production capacity of the latter would be 30 million chicks per year. And that’s not all: SEDIMA has set up the largest slaughterhouse in sub-Saharan Africa. It is fully automated: slaughtering, plucking, cleaning… 4,000 chickens are produced there every hour.
In line with its vision of product diversification, chicken-based charcuterie (of course) is becoming the new market to be conquered for Anta Babacar Ngom. In addition, the staff is not only young, but also has a feminine touch. It should be noted that SEDIMA is already present in Mali: creating new subsidiaries per country over the years has thus become a new objective.
Anta Babacar Ngom and female entrepreneurship …
A travers le Groupe SEDIMA, Anta Babacar Ngom acte en faveur de l’entrepreneuriat féminin de plus d’une façon. De prime abord, elle participe à des initiatives qui soutiennent l’autonomisation des femmes : associations, clubs d’investissements, etc.
Par ailleurs, ces femmes bénéficieront aussi d’un tutorat, de tout le soutien technique nécessaire. A côté de ça, cette aide leur garantirait des débouchées. C’est dans ce sens qu’est né le programme de fermes intégrées au groupe SEDIMA. C’est un programme dont l’objectif est de fournir aux entrepreneures en aviculture le nécessaire pour se lancer. SEDIMA se charge ensuite de la distribution de poulets élevés et exploités, à l’aide de leurs partenaires. Cette philosophie permet de développer les affaires de leurs partenaires, mais aussi celles du groupe SEDIMA.
Selon Anta Babacar Ngom, le développement du continent se fera au moins à 50% par des femmes entrepreneures. Il s’agit donc de soutenir cette nouvelle génération de femmes qui entreprennent non pas par nécessité, mais pour saisir des opportunités qui se présentent à elles. Toutefois, il reste continuellement nécessaire de réunir non seulement des acteurs financiers mais aussi ceux non financiers, pour assurer le déploiement et le développement optimal des différents projets dans lesquels celle qu’on surnomme communément la reine du poulet au Sénégal, s’est lancée. Anta Babacar Ngom a su jusqu’à présent tenir le navire familial à flot : que ce soit à travers la hausse de sa productivité ou alors dans l’atteinte d’objectifs fixés. Elle a su allier son combat pour la liberté entrepreneuriale féminine et l’évolution de SEDIMA.
Inspirant, n’est-ce pas ?
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