Ikore

Happy New Year 2025 from Ikore International Development Limited! As we step into this new year, we remain committed to empowering communities and fostering sustainable development across Nigeria and Africa. Here’s to a year filled with growth, collaboration, and impactful change. Cheers to a prosperous2025! 🎉 #HappyNewYear #IkoreInternational #SustainableDevelopment #MakingMarketsWork #InclusiveGrowth #StrengtheningFoodSystems #ImprovedNutrition

Merry Christmas 🎄🥳 Wishing all our clients, partners, and friends a wonderful holiday season! #christmas2024 #yuletide

Celebrating Teamwork and Togetherness this Holiday Season! Great to celebrate not just the holiday season, but also the incredible teamwork, dedication, and achievements we share at Ikore. From creating memories and laughter to enjoying delicious food and great music, the atmosphere is filled with the joy that comes from being part of such a dynamic and supportive community. Thank you for being a part of our journey in 2024. Here’s to more success and collaboration in 2025! #Ikore #yuletide Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Mercy Corps SCL Future Food Systems GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS NVRI VOM Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie CIRAD GALVmed World Organisation for Animal Health FAO

It's been an incredible journey collaborating with ambassadors from across Africa in the AVSL program. The final session was expertly facilitated by Ogheneovo Ugbebor, whose extensive expertise in Market Systems Development (MSD) spanning nearly two decades and her role as the Managing Partner at Ikore made the session truly insightful . The session, titled "Driving Advocacy with Public and Private Sector Stakeholders" , delved into practical strategies for fostering inclusive growth and sustainable solutions. Key Takeaways from this session are: 🔍 Stakeholder Analysis: Identifying key players, their interests, and roles for effective engagement. 📊 Stakeholder Categorization: Classifying stakeholders by influence and interest to tailor engagement approaches. 🤝 Communication Planning: Building trust and collaboration through well-structured communication strategies. 🌍 Leveraging Networks: Expanding advocacy impact by utilizing professional and organizational networks. 🔄 Adapting to Change: Regularly updating stakeholder maps to reflect evolving dynamics. Ovo also highlighted innovative approaches for tackling vaccine distribution challenges, particularly through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models, citing AMBUVETS KONSULT LTD as an excellent example. This animal health service enterprise uses inclusive business models to deliver vaccines and services to remote areas in Nigeria, showcasing how collaboration can address last-mile delivery issues effectively. Practical Approaches to Collaborative Vaccine Distribution: 💡 Regional Collaboration: Neighboring countries facing similar livestock diseases can partner regionally, with World Organisation for Animal Health coordinating and funding vaccine programs. 💡 Strengthening Supply Chains: Local organizations and private sector players can receive funding to boost vaccine production and ensure availability. 💡 Facilitating Dialogue: PPP frameworks can define clear roles, responsibilities, and funding mechanisms. 💡 Stakeholder Alignment: WOAH(World Organisation for Animal Health) can unite governments, private veterinary services, farmers’ associations, and NGOs around shared objectives. 💡 Monitoring and Evaluation: WOAH(World Organisation for Animal Health) can implement frameworks for monitoring progress and ensuring sustainable improvements in vaccine coverage and disease control. By positioning organizations like the World Organisation for Animal Health as neutral facilitators, gaps can be bridged, and regional solutions for livestock disease control can be realized. A heartfelt thank you to Ogheneovo Ugbebor for her expert guidance and to all ambassadors and participants for their invaluable contributions. Together, we’re paving the way for the future of sustainable livestock advocacy! #SustainableLivestock #StakeholderEngagement #AdvocacyInAction #AVSL #Innovation

Meet Our NextGen Leaders! Welcome to the Ikore Graduate Trainee Fellowship program, where the journey to becoming the next generation of development leaders begins. At Ikore, we are committed to shaping the future of sustainable social and enterprise development in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. This program is designed to provide passionate young professionals with the skills, knowledge, and mentorship needed to drive meaningful change in the development sector. Through this program, trainees gain hands-on experience working on impactful projects, participate in lectures and workshops that enhance their expertise, and engage with seasoned professionals who offer valuable guidance. It is a dynamic learning environment that encourages innovation, fosters professional growth, and builds lasting relationships. We believe that by investing in the brightest minds today, we can create the leaders of tomorrow. Together, we are building a future where sustainable development becomes a reality. Stay tuned for updates on their learnings. They have so much to share already! #NextGenLeaders #IkoreGraduateTrainee #SustainableDevelopment #YouthEmpowerment World Organisation for Animal Health FAO Heifer International Global Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility (GACSR) Ashoka Skoll Foundation Yunus Social Business Oxfam Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Catalyst 2030 Nonprofit Finance Fund Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Godson Ohuruogu Ogheneovo Ugbebor Gbenga Ariyo Ayodele Hosea Yakubu Blessing Allen-Adebayo, PhD

Yesterday, we had the privilege of attending the GAIN Microgrant Award Ceremony, a celebration of innovation and impact within Nigeria’s food processing sector. Organized under the Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples (SNIPS) Project by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). As a dedicated implementing partner, We worked tirelessly to empower food processors, with initiatives focused on value addition, innovative product formulation, and enhancing packaging standards. Through a robust training program, we reached over 150 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), guiding them in areas like access to finance, food safety, and supply chain management. We are elated to announce a remarkable achievement: - 7️⃣ out of 16 GAIN Microgrant awardees—nearly half—were MSMEs trained by Ikore. These enterprises are now better equipped to scale operations and contribute to food security. - Notably, three panelists, past awardees and beneficiaries of our training, shared compelling stories of transformation, shedding light on how the GAIN Microgrant propelled their businesses into new markets and helped them overcome challenges. This milestone reaffirms the effectiveness of our capacity building, mentorship sessions, and hands-on support throughout the project. As we celebrate these achievements, we remain dedicated to helping more MSMEs attain greater heights, expand their business reach, and scale up their operations. #MSMEs #Entrepreneurship #Agribusiness #CapacityBuilding #SNIPSProject #Impact #BusinessGrant #NutritiousFoods #FoodSecurity #SustainableDevelopment #Mentorship #Ikore Ogheneovo Ugbebor Favour Jauro Adewale Adegbuyi Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Oxfam FAO World Food Programme International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ActionAid Heifer International International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) NABARD - National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development

Yesterday, a delegation from Ikore, led by Senior Program Manager, OLUWABUKUNMI DADA, Head of Crop Management Mr. Micheal Adegbuyi, and Head of Communications, Jesutomi Lawal, visited the Africa Projects Development Centre (APDC). Mr. Maaruf Yakub, APDC’s Director of Programmes, Policy and Partnerships warmly welcomed the team, along with the management team. The visit focused on exploring The Centre's impactful programs and discussing shared goals for enhancing livelihoods in the continent. During their time at APDC, the Ikore team toured the demonstration farm, gaining valuable insights into sustainable urban agricultural practices and community engagement strategies. Both Ikore and APDC are dedicated to driving sustainable development through collaborative initiatives. By leveraging their combined strengths, they aim to implement programs that significantly benefit youth and women, who are essential for economic growth across Africa. This visit marks an important step toward meaningful partnership for sustainable progress in the region. #Ikore #APDC #CommunityDevelopment #SustainableDevelopment #YouthEmpowerment #WomenEmpowerment #Agriculture #Collaboration

As part of our continued Project Management Office (PMO) Institutional Capacity Enhancement support for the SCL Future Food Systems Project Juriya, we successfully facilitated an Interaction and Selection Process for Prospective Year 3 Field Agents (FA) and Field Agent Support (FAS) from 28th October-1st November in Nasarawa State and 17th to 23rd November 2024, in Kaduna State. This event evaluated and shortlisted 104 prospective FAs and FAS candidates across 48 communities from Kaduna State and 100 FAs from Nasarawa State. Utilizing scenario-based case studies, the process focused on identifying critical soft skills such as leadership, problem-solving, and knowledge transfer, with an emphasis on empowering female youth (80.7% of those selected were women). The engagement marked a significant step in enhancing ownership for sustainable community impact via key stakeholders at the grassroot level. With the completion of 3-weeks long intense training at the bootcamp on Regenerative Agriculture and Inclusive community development for Nasarawa State, we are excited about the journey that lies ahead for the Kaduna State Prospective FAs commencing today, which will span the next 3 weeks. Ikore remains committed to supporting SCL Future Food Systems Project Juriya on advancing #Regenerative #Agricultural practices. Stay tuned for more updates...

Key Takeaways From the Nutrition Impact at Scale Capacity-Building Week The Nutrition Impact at Scale NIS Capacity-Building Week provided significant insights into addressing the challenges faced by SMEs in nutrition and food safety. One of the standout lessons was the importance of tailored training materials. By customizing content to the specific needs of SMEs, we can equip them to tackle real-world challenges effectively. Collaborating with other Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) further underscored the power of networking. These interactions sparked insightful conversations, revealed shared obstacles, and opened the door to innovative, collaborative solutions. A key highlight was our deep dive into food fraud—a serious issue that compromises food safety, erodes consumer trust, and damages business integrity. Mislabeling, adulteration, and ingredient substitution were identified as critical threats, reminding us of the need for robust preventive measures to protect quality and credibility. We also recognized the value of continuous support and follow-ups in sustaining momentum and driving lasting impact. This is essential for fostering resilience and growth among SMEs in this sector. Looking ahead, we’re excited to design region-specific workshops to address the distinct needs of SMEs. These efforts will build on the progress we’ve made and reinforce our commitment to transforming food systems, enhancing nutrition, and promoting business integrity across communities. At Ikore, we remain dedicated to driving meaningful, scalable change in food safety, nutrition, and business integrity across communities, ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

Approximately 11 million young children in Nigeria—equivalent to one in three—experience severe malnutrition. Nearly 50% of them suffer from wasting, a severe and life-threatening type of malnutrition. This staggering fact highlights the urgent need for nutritious food to be available, accessible, affordable, for all. We are thrilled to partner with WholeEats Africa in advancing access to nutritious food for vulnerable communities, especially among toddlers and their mothers. As a technical partner, Ikore is proud to have supported the launch of the first-ever Nutrition Support Centre (NSC) at the Institute of Child Health, University of Ibadan, UCH. This collaboration underscores our steadfast dedication to addressing malnutrition and food insecurity, paving the way for better health outcomes. Auchan Retail Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland The Rockefeller Foundation Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation USAID Catholic Relief Services World Resources Institute NICFI - Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative Mercy Corps