🌱 Ikore Empowerment Foundation
Harvesting Hope Across All 36 States
Empowering women, youth, and persons living with disabilities through sustainable agriculture, education, and climate-resilient livelihoods across Nigeria.
🇳🇬
36 States
Nigeria-wide reach
"Ikore — meaning Harvest in Yoruba — believes every seed of investment in a woman, a young person, or a person with a disability yields a bountiful harvest for all of Nigeria."
What We Do
Our Areas of Focus
From livestock to climate resilience, we address the root causes of vulnerability with practical, evidence-based solutions.
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Small Ruminants
Goat and sheep farming programmes providing beneficiaries with starter stock, veterinary support, and market linkages to build sustainable income.
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Poultry & Chicken
Backyard and small-scale poultry farming training with inputs support, disease management, and access to feed, empowering women and youth entrepreneurs.
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Livestock & Animal Health
Comprehensive livestock support including vaccination campaigns, community animal health workers training, and disease surveillance across Northern Nigeria.
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Crop Farming & Seeds
Distribution of improved, biofortified seed varieties — rice, maize, cassava, vegetables — alongside good agronomic practices training for smallholder farmers.
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Climate Change & Resilience
Climate-smart agriculture practices, drought-resistant varieties, water harvesting, and adaptation strategies to protect livelihoods from climate shocks.
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Education & Capacity Building
Literacy, vocational skills, and agricultural extension training programmes for women, youth, and persons with disabilities to unlock their full potential.
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Nutrition & Food Security
Biofortification, kitchen gardens, and nutrition education to combat micronutrient deficiency, particularly for women of reproductive age and young children.
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Financial Inclusion
Linking beneficiaries to cooperative savings, credit facilities, and grants so they can invest in and grow their agricultural enterprises independently.
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Agroforestry & Environment
Tree planting, nature-based solutions, and sustainable land management to restore degraded environments while improving farm productivity.
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Digital Agriculture
Digital tools, e-extension services, and mobile-based reporting systems to connect farmers with knowledge, markets, and support services.
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Post-Harvest & Value Addition
Processing, storage, and packaging support to reduce post-harvest losses and help producers capture more value from their crops and livestock.
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Disability-Inclusive Agriculture
Adaptive farming tools, accessible training methods, and targeted grants ensuring persons living with disabilities are fully included in all programmes.
Our Impact
Transforming Lives at Scale
Through the parent organization Ikore International and the Foundation, our reach continues to grow every year.
10K+
Farmers directly reached in Northern Nigeria
36
Nigerian states covered by foundation programmes
600+
Livestock farmers supported with in-kind financing
150%
Increase in farm productivity for beneficiaries
60%
Improved crop yield through compost programmes
500K
Target farmers per planting season by 2027
Who We Serve
Standing With the Most Vulnerable
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Core Beneficiary Groups
The Ikore Empowerment Foundation was born from a deep conviction that the most marginalized members of Nigerian society — women, young people, and persons living with disabilities — hold the greatest untapped potential for national transformation. When we invest in them, we invest in Nigeria.
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👩🌾
Women & Girls Women are the backbone of rural agriculture yet are chronically underserved. We provide them with assets, training, and economic pathways to self-sufficiency and leadership.
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👨🎓
Young People Nigeria's youth bulge is its greatest asset. We channel the energy of young Nigerians into productive agribusiness ventures and skill-building opportunities.
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Persons with Disabilities Through adaptive tools, inclusive programme design, and targeted support, we ensure no one is left behind in Nigeria's agricultural transformation.
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All 36 States + FCT From the arid North to the lush South, our programmes are designed to be contextually adaptive, reaching the hardest-to-reach communities across Nigeria.
Programs
Flagship Initiatives
Targeted programmes designed to create lasting, measurable change for our beneficiaries.
Livestock
Wings of Change — Poultry Programme
Equipping women and youth with day-old chicks, feed, vaccines, and business training to establish sustainable backyard poultry enterprises across rural Nigeria.
Learn more →
Small Ruminants
Goats for Growth Initiative
Distributing starter goat flocks to vulnerable households, backed by veterinary care, community animal health workers, and rotating credit schemes.
Learn more →
Education
AgriLearn — Skills for Tomorrow
Practical literacy, numeracy, and agribusiness skills training for women and youth, combining classroom learning with on-farm application for lasting change.
Learn more →
Our Partners
Trusted Collaborators
We work alongside leading development organisations, government bodies, and the private sector to maximise impact.
🌍 Mastercard Foundation
🇪🇺 European Union
🥗 GAIN (Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition)
🇩🇪 GIZ
❤️ Mercy Corps
🌾 Feed the Future (USAID)
🐄 AU-IBAR
🔬 ILRI
🇳🇬 Federal Government of Nigeria
🤝 Tanager
Join the Harvest
Whether you donate, volunteer, partner, or spread the word — every contribution plants a seed that grows into lasting change.
Donate Now
Who We Are
About Ikore Empowerment Foundation
The not-for-profit arm of Ikore International, dedicated to empowering Nigeria's most vulnerable through sustainable agriculture and inclusive development.
Our Story
Born from Commitment
Ikore Empowerment Foundation is the social impact arm of Ikore International Development Limited — an organisation whose very name, Ikore, means "harvest" in the Yoruba language. The Foundation was established to extend Ikore's mission of sustainable development beyond commercial projects, channelling resources directly into the lives of women, young people, and persons living with disabilities across all 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT.
Nigeria faces deeply entrenched challenges of poverty, food insecurity, and inequality — with over 82 million people living below the national poverty line. Women bear a disproportionate burden, yet are systematically excluded from resources, training, and markets. The Ikore Empowerment Foundation exists to change that equation, one community at a time.
Drawing on Ikore International's decade of evidence-based development work — including partnerships with the Mastercard Foundation, EU, USAID, GIZ, GAIN, and Mercy Corps — the Foundation translates best-in-class knowledge into grassroots transformation for those who need it most.
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Our Vision
A Nigeria where every woman, young person, and person with a disability has the opportunity, tools, and support to achieve a prosperous and self-determined life through sustainable agriculture.
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Our Mission
To facilitate inclusive agricultural development and economic empowerment for women, youth, and persons with disabilities across Nigeria's 36 states through targeted programmes, capacity building, and strategic partnerships.
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Our Values
Innovation · Inclusion · Integrity · Collaboration · Compassion · Accountability · Sustainability — these are not just words but the principles that govern every programme we design and every partnership we forge.
Our Connection
Part of the Ikore Family
The Foundation is the social conscience of the Ikore group — channelling expertise and resources into direct community impact.
Ikore International Development Ltd
The commercial arm — an international development organisation working with governments, NGOs, and donors on agribusiness, value chains, and market systems development across Nigeria and Africa.
Based at 11 Vanern Street, Wuse, Abuja | ikore.org
Ikore Empowerment Foundation
The not-for-profit arm — focused exclusively on direct beneficiary support, grant-funded programmes, and social impact for women, youth, and persons with disabilities across all 36 Nigerian states.
Website: ikorefoundation.org
What We Do
Our Programmes
Evidence-based, community-centred programmes designed to create lasting economic and social change for Nigeria's most vulnerable people.
🐔 Livestock
Wings of Change — Poultry Programme
Our flagship poultry programme equips women and youth with everything they need to run a successful backyard chicken enterprise: day-old chicks, quality feed, vaccination support, pen construction guidance, and business skills training. Participants are organized into cooperatives for collective bargaining and market access.
The programme targets women in peri-urban and rural areas, with a special quota for persons with disabilities, ensuring truly inclusive access to the agricultural economy.
🐐 Small Ruminants
Goats for Growth Initiative
Small ruminants — particularly goats and sheep — are a lifeline for rural households in Nigeria. Our programme distributes starter flocks of quality goats to women and youth, backed by training in herd management, pasture improvement, disease prevention, and vaccination.
Through a rotating "pass-the-gift" model, each beneficiary eventually supports another community member, creating a self-sustaining cycle of empowerment that multiplies impact without additional donor funding.
🌱 Crop Farming
Seeds of Abundance Programme
Access to quality, improved seed varieties remains one of the biggest barriers for smallholder farmers in Nigeria. We distribute certified, biofortified seeds — including Vitamin A maize, Vitamin A cassava, rice, and vegetables — alongside comprehensive training in good agronomic practices.
Our seeds programme directly addresses malnutrition by prioritising biofortified crops that are high in iron, zinc, and vitamins, helping to tackle Nigeria's micronutrient deficiency crisis at the source.
📚 Education
AgriLearn — Skills for Tomorrow
Education is the great equaliser. Our AgriLearn programme combines functional literacy and numeracy with practical agricultural skills, financial management, and entrepreneurship training tailored to the needs of women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Delivered through community learning centres and mobile training units, the programme is designed to be accessible to all — including those with mobility limitations, visual impairments, or hearing loss.
Climate Resilience Programme
Climate change is devastating livelihoods across Nigeria — especially in the North where drought, flooding, and desertification are accelerating. Our climate resilience programme trains farmers in climate-smart practices, supports adoption of drought-resistant varieties, promotes compost-making from livestock waste, and helps communities develop early warning and adaptation plans.
The People
Meet Our Team
Passionate, skilled, and mission-driven people who give their all to transform lives across Nigeria.
Our People
The Heart Behind the Harvest
The Ikore Empowerment Foundation team is a diverse, dynamic group of development professionals, agricultural scientists, community mobilisers, data analysts, and communications experts — united by a single purpose: to see Nigeria's most vulnerable people thrive.
Our team draws from the talent pool of Ikore International, bringing years of on-the-ground experience in agribusiness, value chain development, livestock health, nutrition, and community development across Nigeria and Africa.
Leadership
Board & Leadership
AI
Amb. Adewale Ibikunle
Founder & Board Chair
Visionary entrepreneur and development leader with over 20 years experience building inclusive enterprises across Nigeria and Africa.
EO
Dr. Emeka Okonkwo
Executive Director
Agricultural economist and former senior advisor to multiple development programmes across West Africa. PhD in Agricultural Development.
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Fatima Aliyu
Director, Programmes
Specialist in women's economic empowerment and livestock development with 15 years designing and implementing community programmes in Northern Nigeria.
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Chukwuemeka Bello
Director, Finance & Operations
Certified accountant and nonprofit finance specialist, ensuring every naira and dollar reaches the community with maximum efficiency and full accountability.
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Ngozi Ibrahim
Head, Partnerships & Resource Mobilisation
Former programme officer at a leading international NGO, Ngozi leads our donor relations, grant applications, and strategic partnerships.
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Yusuf Mohammed
Head, Field Operations — North
Veteran field coordinator with deep roots in Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Kano, managing a network of over 50 community field agents.
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Amaka Chukwu
Head, Field Operations — South
Community development specialist overseeing programme delivery across Southern Nigeria's diverse ecological zones and cultural contexts.
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Tolu Lawal
Head, Monitoring & Evaluation
Data scientist and impact measurement expert ensuring all programmes are evidence-based and continuously improved based on real community feedback.
Join Our Team
We are always looking for passionate, skilled professionals to join our mission. If you believe in an inclusive, food-secure Nigeria, we want to hear from you.
View Open Positions
Our Work
Photo Gallery
A window into our work — from field distributions to community trainings, livestock programmes to harvests of hope.
Community livestock distribution with traditional leaders, Northern Nigeria
Poultry programme beneficiary, Northern Nigeria
Small ruminant distribution activity
Women farmers receiving goat starter stock
Feed distribution for poultry programme participants
Community advocacy visit with traditional council, Nasarawa State
Youth livestock management training session
Ikore staff conducting field assessment, Southern Nigeria
Improved seed varieties distributed to beneficiary farmers
Women in agricultural skills training, Nasarawa State
Agricultural inputs distribution programme
Young woman beneficiary with day-old chick
Stories
News & Stories
Real stories of real people whose lives have been transformed through the work of Ikore Empowerment Foundation.
March 2025
How Halima Turned 10 Chickens into a Thriving Enterprise
When Halima received her first ten day-old chicks through the Foundation's Wings of Change programme in Nasarawa State, she had no idea it would transform her family's fortunes within a year.
January 2025
500 Youth Receive Goats in Foundation's Largest Single Distribution
The Ikore Empowerment Foundation completed its biggest single livestock distribution to date, placing 500 starter goats with young farmers across five Local Government Areas in Kaduna State.
November 2024
AgriLearn Launches in 12 New States, Reaching 2,000 Women
The Foundation's flagship education programme expanded into 12 new states, bringing agricultural skills training, literacy support, and financial education to 2,000 women across Nigeria.
September 2024
Biofortified Seeds: Tackling Malnutrition One Farm at a Time
Working alongside GAIN and local partners, the Foundation distributed Vitamin A-enriched maize and cassava seeds to 1,200 smallholder families in Nasarawa and Kaduna States.
July 2024
Climate-Smart Farming Boosts Yields by 60% in Pilot Communities
A two-year pilot of climate-smart agricultural practices in six communities across the Northeast has delivered remarkable results, with participating farmers reporting up to 60% increases in yield.
May 2024
Foundation Partners with Traditional Rulers to Accelerate Rural Reach
A new community mobilisation strategy engaging traditional councils and royal institutions has dramatically accelerated the Foundation's ability to reach women in remote rural communities.
Get in Touch
Contact Us
Whether you want to donate, partner, volunteer, or simply learn more — we'd love to hear from you.
Give Today
Every Gift Plants a Seed
Your donation directly funds livestock, seeds, training, and opportunities for Nigeria's most vulnerable. No gift is too small to change a life.
What Your Donation Buys
🐔
₦5,000 / $10
Provides a day-old chick and starter feed for one woman
🐐
₦25,000 / $50
Funds a starter goat and 3 months of veterinary support
🌱
₦50,000 / $100
Seeds, tools, and a full season of training for one farmer
👨👩👧👦
₦250,000 / $500
Sponsors a complete household transformation package
🏘️
₦1,000,000+ / $2,000+
Fund an entire community programme for one quarter
🏦 Bank Transfer Details
Bank: First Bank of Nigeria
Account Name: Ikore Empowerment Foundation
Account Number: 0000000000
Sort Code: 011151003