Durian Nigeria is proud to announce the successful conclusion of its inaugural Rural Is Cool Conference, a transformative three-day event held from June 18-20, 2025. The conference began with immersive experiences at the Durian Crafts Village in Imafon and culminated in a grand summit at The Dome in Akure.

Bringing together over 300 participants, including traditional rulers, policymakers, agripreneurs, academics, youth leaders, and investors, the conference fostered deep engagement around the theme: “Revitalising Rural: Innovation, Culture, and Sustainability.“

“This was not just a conference—it was a movement… shifting from pity to partnership,” said Divine Nnamdi, Events Coordinator at Durian Nigeria.

Three Days of Insight, Impact & Action

Day 1 – Building Rural-Driven Partnerships

The opening day focused on forging robust partnerships essential for rural growth. High-level panels addressed crucial topics such as bridging rural-urban market gaps, establishing sustainable governance frameworks, and expanding financial inclusion for smallholder farmers. Key discussions highlighted the importance of education and trust-building in rural communities, the significant data gap affecting planning, and the need for farmer support through initiatives like end-of-harvest loans. Provost Dr. Akinyemi Albert Fadiyimu of the Federal College of Agriculture (FECA) emphasised the critical need to reorient youth perception of agriculture, rebranding it as a viable and profitable career. The Ministry of Agriculture’s representative underscored government efforts in seedling distribution, research and innovation, and improving funding access for farmers. Participants collectively identified the urgent need for market access for farm produce and equitable grants and financing models to counter exploitative loan schemes.

Day 2 – Community Innovation & Indigenous Wisdom

Discussions on the second day delved into leveraging community innovation and preserving invaluable indigenous knowledge systems. Panellists from organisations like Eco-Planning, OFEM Micro-Credit, and Entojutu shared strategies for grassroots engagement, promoting financial inclusion, and positioning organisations for impact-driven funding. A key takeaway was that “funding is everywhere,” but organisations must be intentional and structured, supported by robust data collection from rural communities. Critical issues raised included security concerns in rural farming areas, the revival of effective knowledge dissemination platforms for farmers, and the need for government regulation of food exports to prioritise local consumption. Group discussions across three focus areas—Aone Organisation, Innovation & Engagement, and Cross-Sector Collaboration—unanimously emphasised modern technology adoption, farm security, climate change adaptation, mindset shifts for rural youth, and the crucial role of policy advocacy and collaborative leadership.

Day 3 – Grand Summit: Climate Resilience & Tech-Enabled Agriculture

The conference culminated in a powerful grand summit, spotlighting climate-smart farming and digital solutions for rural development. A compelling keynote presentation by the CEO of Niji Farms, Farmer Kola Adeniji, under the theme “Building Climate Resilience Through Smart Agricultural Value Chains,” underscored Nigeria’s vulnerability to climate shocks and the urgent need for agriculture that “adapts, mitigates, and thrives in a changing climate.” He emphasised passion-led enterprise, community-driven models, strong public-private collaboration, and consistent investment in training, technology, and trust-building as core strategies for resilience.

Subsequent panels featured diverse thought leaders, including Aduragbemi Fasakin (CEO, Advic Farms), Dr. Akinyemi Fadiyimu (Provost, Federal College of Agriculture), representatives from the Ekiti State Government on Agriculture, and Soilless Farm. These discussions highlighted innovative practices like waste-to-wealth transformation, cluster farming, year-round food production using technology, and the importance of practical, results-oriented agricultural training. The critical role of women in agriculture was emphasised, with calls for increased participation in training and advocacy, and practical advice on market identification before production. Challenges like the influx of fake agrochemicals and herder-farmer conflicts were addressed, with solutions pointing to stronger cooperatives and empowered traditional leaders.

The “Indigenous Knowledge for Sustaining Communities” panel, featuring Wale Ojulanre, Erelu Funmi Rotiba, Rev. Joseph Titus, Regent Tinuade Babalola, and the Chief of Staff to the Oba, underscored indigenous knowledge as a living body of practices and beliefs essential for resilient communities. Panellists highlighted how colonial and religious influences have led to cultural erosion and emphasised the importance of integrating cultural values into economic policies and education for sustainable development.

The “Leveraging Technology for Rural Development” panel, with Akinsumi Odunayo (Co-founder, Sucres9jaFood), Lawrence Afere (Springboard, represented by delegate), and Sunshine Initiatives, showcased business models bridging the rural gap through direct sourcing, farmer databases, and financial inclusion. They stressed that rural communities must be open to learning and adapting to technology, viewing it as a tool for support rather than a threat. The role of organisations like Follow the Money in promoting transparency and accountability in development funds was also highlighted.

A standout moment was the Rural Innovation Challenge, which awarded ₦300,000 and prototype production funding to student-led agritech innovators, fostering the next generation of rural solutions. Awards were also presented to Farmer Kola Adeniji and Dr. Akinyemi Fadiyimu for their exceptional contributions to sustainable agriculture.

Why It Matters

With over 60% of Nigeria’s population residing in rural areas, the conference meticulously addressed core challenges, including market access, finance, cultural integration, youth inclusion, and ecosystem resilience. It successfully reframed the rural narrative, showcasing these areas not as villages of lack, but as vibrant hubs of innovation and opportunity. Participants departed energised, equipped, and committed to collaborative action, anchored in data, mutual respect, and a shared purpose.

What’s Next

Durian Nigeria invites all stakeholders—governments, investors, NGOs, artisans, and innovators—to sustain this critical momentum throughout the year. By actively centring rural voices in policy, investment, and social enterprise, we can collectively build pathways for equitable, scalable change across Nigeria.

About Durian Nigeria

A women-led social enterprise based in Ondo State, Durian Nigeria, pioneers rural transformation through holistic programs in agriculture, crafts, sustainability, and waste reuse. Since 2013, the Foundation has empowered over 3,000 rural women and supported 10,000 community livelihoods with dignity and tangible impact.

Stay Connected

Stay updated on post-conference initiatives, program rollouts, and collaboration opportunities via: 📧 office@duriannigeria | 🌐 durian.org.ng | Social: @duriannigeria