EHA Impact Ventures (EIV), a gender-lens impact investment firm under the EHA Group, has announced a $50,000 investment in Mainstream
EHA Impact Ventures (EIV), a gender-lens impact investment firm under the EHA Group, has announced a $50,000 investment in Mainstream Lime-Light Ltd, producers of Ma’Zaine Foods, a women-led agro-processing company based in Birnin Kebbi. The investment will fund equipment to expand Ma’Zaine’s product lines and start production of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), a treatment for severe acute malnutrition in children.
The announcement was made during a facility tour and investment event at the company’s production facility, attended by representatives of the Kebbi State Ministry of Health and the Kebbi State Investment Promotion Agency (KIPA).
Financing structure and technical support
The investment is structured as a convertible revenue-based loan, providing flexible growth capital that aligns repayment with the company’s performance while enabling EIV to recycle capital into future women-led businesses. In addition to capital, Ma’Zaine Foods will receive technical support, strategic guidance, and communications support as part of EIV’s founder-first investment approach.
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Founded by Maryam Yakubu, Ma’Zaine Foods produces a range of nutrition-focused products, including Tom Brown cereal for children from six months, date powder, sweet potato flour, baobab fruit powder, finger millet flour, and date seed coffee. Its products serve children, breastfeeding mothers, and people living with diabetes. The company also provides food processing training and manufacturing services for other businesses.
Addressing malnutrition in northern Nigeria
The investment comes at a time when nutrition remains a significant challenge in northern Nigeria. UNICEF estimates that around 2 million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition, with northern states bearing a disproportionate share of the burden, including Kebbi State. Expanding access to nutritious foods produced close to the communities they serve plays an important role in improving health outcomes while strengthening local food systems.
”At EIV, we invest in women entrepreneurs who are building solutions to challenges they understand deeply because they live and work in the communities they serve,” said EHA Impact Ventures CEO Evelyn Castle.
Leadership perspectives on local impact
“Nutrition remains a significant challenge across northern Nigeria, and we have seen growing efforts to expand access to locally produced nutrition products that can improve health outcomes for children and families. Ma’Zaine Foods is part of that solution. By producing nutritious foods locally and creating economic opportunities close to home, the company is strengthening both community health and local livelihoods. We are proud to support Maryam and her team as they grow their impact.”
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Ma’Zaine Foods Founder and CEO Maryam Yakubu commented: “Our mission has always been to make nutritious foods more accessible and affordable for families. This investment will help us expand production capacity, allowing us to reach more customers, create more opportunities locally, and continue delivering products that support healthier lives.”
The investment marks EIV’s continued commitment to supporting African women entrepreneurs building businesses that improve health and livelihoods, while strengthening local economies and expanding access to essential products and services.