TONY
2026
Rural systems architect
CREATING STRONG RURAL SYSTEMS
JOY
Creating strong rural systems
With over 11 years in rural development, I have seen projects succeed and fail, and, as a result, have developed proven strategies to engage rural communities in projects and sustainable methodologies to integrate them so that projects outlive funding.
Rural Systems Architect and Global Impact åStrategist
Rural Systems Architect and Global Impact åStrategist
I founded the Durian Foundation to drive transformation across Rural Africa, and so far, we have impacted the lives of over 150,000 rural dwellers across 30 communities in Nigeria and 2 African countries.
Currently, I continue to co-create and work with organizations and donor agencies through contract-based work, consistently pushing the boundaries in sustainable rural and community development
Based and work in Nigeria
(GMT)
Featured Project
I've had the privilege of collaborating with renowned brands, bringing innovative ideas to life, and creating sustainable projects.
SELECTED PROJECTS
SELECTED PROJECTS
creative expertise
creative expertise
"True Development works only when the system surrounding it works."
01 ——
Rural/Circular Systems Design
Most rural development projects die with their funding. I can show you how to work directly with communities to build frameworks, resource loops, and governance structures that keep projects alive long after donors have moved on.
Needs Assessment
Participatory Design
Governance & Ownership
Sustainability Planning
01 ——
Rural/Circular Systems Design
Most rural development projects die with their funding. I can show you how to work directly with communities to build frameworks, resource loops, and governance structures that keep projects alive long after donors have moved on.
Needs Assessment
Participatory Design
Governance & Ownership
Sustainability Planning
01 ——
Rural/Circular Systems Design
Most rural development projects die with their funding. I can show you how to work directly with communities to build frameworks, resource loops, and governance structures that keep projects alive long after donors have moved on.
Needs Assessment
Participatory Design
Governance & Ownership
Sustainability Planning
02 ——
Economic Empowerment
Poverty is not a resource problem, it's a systems problem. I design economic pathways that connect rural people to markets, skills, and capital, turning subsistence into enterprise.
Economic Inclusion
Market Linkage Design
Skills & Livlihood
Business Support Systems
02 ——
Economic Empowerment
Poverty is not a resource problem, it's a systems problem. I design economic pathways that connect rural people to markets, skills, and capital, turning subsistence into enterprise.
Economic Inclusion
Market Linkage Design
Skills & Livlihood
Business Support Systems
02 ——
Economic Empowerment
Poverty is not a resource problem, it's a systems problem. I design economic pathways that connect rural people to markets, skills, and capital, turning subsistence into enterprise.
Economic Inclusion
Market Linkage Design
Skills & Livlihood
Business Support Systems
03 ——
Tech for Good
The future of rural development is not imported but designed for the people who live it. I build digital tools that meet farmers and rural dwellers where they are, on the phones in their pockets, in the languages they speak, with the information they actually need.
AgriTech & Digital Extension
Last-Mile Technology Design
Human-Centred Products
Community-Facing Digital Tools
03 ——
Tech for Good
The future of rural development is not imported but designed for the people who live it. I build digital tools that meet farmers and rural dwellers where they are, on the phones in their pockets, in the languages they speak, with the information they actually need.
AgriTech & Digital Extension
Last-Mile Technology Design
Human-Centred Products
Community-Facing Digital Tools
03 ——
Tech for Good
The future of rural development is not imported but designed for the people who live it. I build digital tools that meet farmers and rural dwellers where they are, on the phones in their pockets, in the languages they speak, with the information they actually need.
AgriTech & Digital Extension
Last-Mile Technology Design
Human-Centred Products
Community-Facing Digital Tools
04 ——
Narrative & Advocacy
The rural story has too often been told by outsiders but I work with comunities to change that. We craft narratives that make rural communities findable and fundable.
Impact Storytelling
Policy Advocacy
Campaign & Comms Design
Donor & Stakeholder Engagement
04 ——
Narrative & Advocacy
The rural story has too often been told by outsiders but I work with comunities to change that. We craft narratives that make rural communities findable and fundable.
Impact Storytelling
Policy Advocacy
Campaign & Comms Design
Donor & Stakeholder Engagement
04 ——
Narrative & Advocacy
The rural story has too often been told by outsiders but I work with comunities to change that. We craft narratives that make rural communities findable and fundable.
Impact Storytelling
Policy Advocacy
Campaign & Comms Design
Donor & Stakeholder Engagement
05 ——
Partnerships/Co-creation
With over a decade of experience working across Nigeria and multiple countries globally, I know how to bring organizations, communities, and institutions into genuine alignment, creating the kind of trust that makes transformative work possible.
Multi-Stakeholder Facilitation
Co-Creation & Co-Design
Organizational Strategy
Cross-Sector Collaboration
05 ——
Partnerships/Co-creation
With over a decade of experience working across Nigeria and multiple countries globally, I know how to bring organizations, communities, and institutions into genuine alignment, creating the kind of trust that makes transformative work possible.
Multi-Stakeholder Facilitation
Co-Creation & Co-Design
Organizational Strategy
Cross-Sector Collaboration
05 ——
Partnerships/Co-creation
With over a decade of experience working across Nigeria and multiple countries globally, I know how to bring organizations, communities, and institutions into genuine alignment, creating the kind of trust that makes transformative work possible.
Multi-Stakeholder Facilitation
Co-Creation & Co-Design
Organizational Strategy
Cross-Sector Collaboration
Metric marvels
Metric marvels
AWARDS & Recognition
020
Ashoka
Kanthari
Royal
Commonwealth Society
Her Network
PROJECTS COMPLETED
030
Durian Craft Village
Durian Farm Village
Itaja
Dunni by Durian
Rural is Cool Conference
Number of communities impacted
040
WORKED WITH international CLIENTS
05
Have a project?
Schedule a Call.
Let's chat!
Have a project?
I'm available for new projects from
April - June 2026
