Durian Nigeria

Through the Itaja program, we are equipping rural women with the skills and knowledge needed to grow their businesses. Each month, a group of 15 to 25 women come together to learn about bookkeeping, marketing, savings, and business identification. We are excited to welcome the second batch of beneficiaries this week. Next week, they will pitch their business ideas, and 6 to 10 participants will be awarded grants to scale their businesses. #Itaja #ruraliscool #redefiningrural #businessgrantsforwomen #grants #msme #EmpoweringCommunities #DurianFoundation

🌱✨ Meet Lydhia Kiswii , our Rural Green Fellow of the Month! An inspiring youth agriculturist and zero hunger advocate, she’s transforming smallholder farming in Makueni County of Kenya through sustainable dryland agriculture. With over 10,000 farmers empowered, Lydhia continues to drive impactful change by promoting Good Agronomic Practices and sharing resilience stories. Her commitment to regenerative agriculture is paving the way for a sustainable future. #RuralGreenFellow #SustainableFarming #duriannigeria #ruraliscool #redefiningrural #ClimateResilience #AgricultureImpact

With deep-rooted knowledge and sustainable practices, rural communities play a vital role in preserving our ecosystems for generations to come. Let’s support and celebrate their contributions to a healthier, more resilient planet. #ruraliscool #duriannigeria #redefiningrural #BiodiversityHeroes #RuralConservation #SustainableFuture #EcosystemGuardians #TraditionalKnowledge #ProtectOurPlanet #CommunityConservation #RuralResilience #ForFutureGenerations #EcoWarriors

Voices of Impact! Hear firsthand how #Itaja is transforming lives and empowering rural businesses. These testimonials from our inspiring attendees highlight the power of community support, skills training, and small grants in fueling local growth. 💼💪 #EmpoweringRuralCommunities #ItajaImpact #DurianFoundation #SupportSMEs #redefiningrural #ruraliscool #itaja

Meet Mrs. Olaoluwa: A Success Story from Ugele Community, Akure At the Durian Foundation, we are committed to transforming lives—one rural woman at a time. Mrs. Olaoluwa, a determined woman from Ugele Community, is one of the remarkable beneficiaries of our rural development initiative. Since April 2024, we've had the privilege of working with Mrs. Olaoluwa to establish a thriving tomato farm right in her backyard. With our support, she received essential farming tools and resources, including a sprayer, a nursery tray, organic fertilizers, and guidance on setting up her farm. In her own words, Mrs. Olaoluwa shares: “Thank you, Durian, for your support. You didn’t know me before, yet you believed in me. You provided me with everything I needed to start my farm. I’m so happy to be learning about tomato farming.” Mrs. Olaoluwa’s story is a testament to the power of empowerment. By equipping rural women with the tools and knowledge they need, we’re helping them create sustainable livelihoods and uplift their communities. Together, we can empower more women like Mrs. Olaoluwa, fostering resilience, self-reliance, and a brighter future for rural Nigeria. #TomatoRevolution #FarmToTable #GrowLocal #SustainableFarming #RuralAgriculture #FreshHarvest #FoodSecurity #GreenThumb #Agripreneur #TomatoFarming

Breaking barriers starts with courage. To every woman navigating a male-dominated world, remember: stay confident, own your voice, and never be afraid to take up space. Your strength is your power. 💪 Cc - Tony Joy #WomenInLeadership #BreakingBarriers #EmpowerHer #WomenSupportingWomen

True sustainability isn’t just a goal, it’s a way of life. When the balance between people and the planet becomes second nature, we all thrive. 🌍✨ #ruraliscool #duriannigeria #redefiningrural #SustainableLiving #HarmonyWithNature #EcoConscious #FutureForward

I've always advocated for bringing processing closer to rural communities, where the products are grown. We're now making this dream a reality by setting up processing spaces within these communities. We recently launched our chicken processing facility, specializing in dried and frozen chicken. This is a significant step for rural women and poultry farmers, as it provides a steady market for their products, reducing the risk of losses. This initiative is part of our #Village #Chicken Project at Durian. Through the project, we've already empowered 10 rural women poultry farmers with the knowledge they need to build successful poultry businesses. From understanding the economics of production to essential practices for raising broilers, they’re gaining valuable insights. We're also exploring opportunities across the poultry value chain, such as waste reuse, to maximize resources. Imagine if 10 women each keep 50 birds for 8 weeks throughout the year, with a steady market in place. That’s 500 birds, and even accounting for mortality, 450 birds reach maturity and are sold within the same system every 8 weeks. What's even more exciting is the potential to scale this up to 100 birds each, further boosting income and economic stability. Did you know that small-scale farmers play a crucial role in the food value chain? With a consistent market, they have the potential to expand their businesses and strengthen our food systems. At Durian Nigeria , we're redefining what it means to be "rural" by building sustainable, circular, and creative communities empowered by rural women. We do this by helping rural communities leverage local waste and resources to create livelihoods. When we enter a community, our most important question is, "What do you have, and what do you do as a people?" #RuralDevelopment #SustainableAgriculture #WomenEmpowerment #CircularEconomy #PoultryFarming #FoodSecurity #SmallScaleFarming #CommunityEmpowerment #SocialImpact #RuralInnovation #WomenInBusiness #Agripreneurship

Today, six remarkable rural women were awarded a grant support of ₦100,000 each to grow their small-scale businesses. This marks a significant milestone in a journey that began just a week ago with 21 women participating in the inaugural Itaja training series. Over the past few days, these women immersed themselves in learning essential business skills, including cashbook management, profit and loss calculations, budgeting, stock keeping, the importance of savings, and marketing strategies. The three-day intensive training culminated in a pitch session before an independent panel, which selected these six outstanding women for the grant. Our support for these women doesn’t end here. Moving forward, we will continue to mentor them, offer retraining opportunities, and provide access to loans and ongoing support. The journey has just begun, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact these empowered women will create in their communities. Stay tuned for more updates as we share the stories behind each woman's business and their progress. #WomenEmpowerment #RuralDevelopment #SmallBusinessSupport #ItajaProject #FinancialInclusion #BusinessTraining #GrantSupport #Mentorship #WomenInBusiness #CommunityImpact #Nigeria #DurianFoundation #DurianNigeria

Day 2 of the Itaja Project: Knowledge into Action! 💡 Today, our amazing rural women took their business skills to the next level, diving into practical strategies to boost their ventures. From mastering cash book management to learning how to calculate profit and loss, they’re equipping themselves with the tools for success. These remarkable women are unlocking their full potential, and the future is bright for rural entrepreneurship! #Itaja #WomenInBusiness #RuralTransformation #EmpowermentInAction #redefiningrural #ruraliscool #DurianNigeria