Empowering communities, transforming lives
Poverty and inequality impact communities, demanding community-driven solutions and a shared vision for progress.
RNZ Foundation is a multi-sector nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating holistic and inclusive development in underserved communities. Our mission is to empower individuals and communities through a combination of financial support and social investment. We collaborate across various sectors to develop and implement sustainable solutions that enhance productivity, increase income, and promote healthy living, ensuring a comprehensive approach to community development.
Empowering Through Focus
Discover our focused approach to making a meaningful impact. Our strategic mandates guide our efforts in agriculture, health, education, and job creation, allowing us to create positive change where it's needed most.
We tackle challenges like lack of access to quality inputs and credit, ensuring local farmers have the tools they need for success.
Agriculture
Our healthcare initiatives include rural medical outreach, cataract and glaucoma surgeries, and providing access to drinkable water.
Health
We tackle challenges like lack of access to quality inputs and credit, ensuring local farmers have the tools they need for success.
Education & Job Creation
Community Empowerment Projects
At RNZ Foundation, our commitment to empowering communities and transforming lives is brought to life through a range of impactful projects. Each project reflects our unwavering dedication to addressing key challenges and creating positive change where it's needed most. Explore our projects, and discover how we are making a real difference in the lives of individuals and communities, one initiative at a time.
350
Cataract and glaucoma surgeries
1000
Scholarships for tertiary institutions
100
Point of Sale machines for entrepreneurs
1000
Knapsack sprayers & farm tools for farmers
Agriculture
Catalyzing local agricultural development
We're dedicated to empowering local farmers by providing them with essential tools. We equip 1,000 farmers with Knapsack Sprayers and farm tools, ensuring that they have the resources they need to improve crop yields and enhance their livelihoods.
Impact: By enhancing access to quality agricultural equipment, we're enabling these farmers to grow more food, increase their income, and build sustainable, thriving communities.
Health
Bettering Healthcare Access
Our healthcare initiatives are making a significant impact. We conduct rural medical outreach programs, facilitating 4,000 individuals across 10 communities and 7 LGAs in Kwara South. We also facilitate 350 cataracts and glaucoma surgeries, ensuring that individuals regain their sight and quality of life.
Impact: By providing critical medical services and surgeries, we are improving the health and well-being of individuals in underserved communities, making a lasting difference in their lives.
Health
Access to safe drinking water
Access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental right. We've facilitated access to safe and drinkable water for 5,000 individuals in two communities and two LGAs in Kwara State, Nigeria.
Impact: Ensuring access to safe drinking water is a vital step towards better health and a brighter future for these communities.
Health
Promoting community sports
Sports and physical activities play an essential role in community well-being. We facilitate five sports events across five communities in seven LGAs in Kwara South, promoting a sense of community, healthy living, and social inclusion.
Impact: Through these events, we're fostering a sense of togetherness and promoting a healthier lifestyle for the communities we serve.
Education & Job Creation
Empowering Students
We believe in the power of education. We've granted scholarships to 100 secondary school students from seven LGAs, covering their first-term school fees and helping them access quality education.
Impact: These scholarships are opening doors to a brighter future for these students, ensuring they have the opportunity to pursue their dreams through education.
Education & Job Creation
Supporting Tertiary Education
We're investing in higher education. We provide JAMB and tertiary education scholarships for 1,000 individuals, offering them a chance to further their studies and career prospects.
Impact: By supporting tertiary education, we're equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge needed for the job market of today and tomorrow.
Education & Job Creation
Catalyzing local enterprise development
Local enterprises are the backbone of communities. We're providing support with 100 Point of Sales machines distributed to individuals, empowering them to enhance their businesses.
Impact: These machines are helping individuals expand their businesses, create jobs, and contribute to local economic growth.
Education & Job Creation
Supporting Women Entrepreneurs
We're empowering women entrepreneurs with a revolving fund. 100 market women are empowered with a 20,000 Naira Revolving Fund each, allowing them to strengthen their businesses and provide for their families.
Impact: This fund serves as a safety net for vulnerable widows and supports their businesses, improving their quality of life and financial independence.
Education & Job Creation
PWS Widows Endowment Fund
We're committed to supporting vulnerable widows. Our 3.5 million Naira PWS Widows Endowment Fund serves as a safety net, assisting widows to grow their petty businesses across seven LGAs in Kwara State, Nigeria.
Impact: This fund is a lifeline for vulnerable widows, providing the means to support their families and participate actively in their communities.
Challenges faced by communities
At RNZ Foundation, we believe in empowering communities through understanding and addressing their specific needs. To achieve this, we conducted a comprehensive need assessment survey, reaching out to the heart of these communities to identify their most pressing challenges. The results of this survey shed light on the very real struggles faced by individuals and families in these areas. It's not just data; it's the voices and experiences of the people we serve. With these findings, we are dedicated to forging solutions that transform challenges into opportunities, striving to make a lasting, positive impact where it's needed most. Explore the problems we've identified through our need assessment survey, which serve as our guiding compass in the journey of empowerment and change.
Identified problems in agriculture
Lack of access to quality inputs
Many farmers in under-resourced communities face challenges in obtaining essential agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and tools, hindering their ability to optimize crop production.
Limited credit worthiness
Access to credit is a crucial factor in agricultural growth. Farmers often lack the credit-worthiness to secure loans for investments in their farms and agricultural practices.
Lack of access to premium markets
Farmers often struggle to reach premium markets for their produce, limiting their income potential.
Insufficient Push and Pull Factors for Marginalized Populations
Particularly, women and youth face difficulties in engaging in agriculture due to insufficient incentives and support systems.
Identified problems in health
Low Awareness Levels
Inadequate awareness about healthcare and preventive measures is a significant issue. Many individuals lack the knowledge needed to maintain good health.
Lack of healthcare insurance program
A lack of access to healthcare insurance creates financial barriers to seeking medical care, preventing many from accessing essential services.
Insufficient WASH facilities
Adequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities are often lacking, posing health risks and sanitation challenges.
Lack of access to quality healthcare
Communities often lack access to quality healthcare services, particularly in rural areas.
Identified problems in education & job creation
Lack of access to relevant information
Many individuals, especially youth, face challenges in accessing relevant information to make informed decisions about their education and careers.
Lack of skills & capabilities for today's and tomorrow's job markets
The education system often fails to equip students with the skills needed for the modern job market, leading to unemployment and underemployment.
Lack of conducive learning environments
Limited resources and infrastructure create barriers to effective learning, hindering educational progress.
Insufficient technical assistance for local enterprises
Local enterprises struggle to attract investments and scale due to a lack of technical assistance and support, resulting in missed job creation opportunities.
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Join us in making a difference.
Your support can empower more communities, transform more lives, and build a brighter, more equitable future.
Our founders
Meet the visionary founders behind RNZ Foundation, Professor Wale Sulaiman, MD., Ph.D., FRCS(C)., CON, and Mrs. Patricia Sulaiman. Their journey, marked by excellence and unwavering commitment, has been instrumental in shaping RNZ Foundation's mission and impact.
Professor Wale Sulaiman's journey, from humble beginnings to becoming a world-renowned neurosurgeon and philanthropist, exemplifies the transformative power of education and hard work. He secured a scholarship to study medicine abroad, completed his medical degree, and earned a Ph.D. in Neurosciences. His expertise extends to complex spine surgery and nerve reconstruction. His commitment to Nigeria is unwavering, as evidenced by his dedication to free medical care and training for Nigerian healthcare professionals.
Complementing Professor Wale Sulaiman's vision is his beloved wife, Mrs. Patricia Sulaiman, a devoted nurse practitioner. Together, they co-founded RNZ Foundation, reflecting their shared commitment to providing free medical services for Nigerian patients and training for healthcare professionals.
The Sulaiman family's dedication to service extends beyond their professional lives. They relocated to Nigeria in 2017, driven by an unshakable belief in the greatness of Nigeria's future. With 25 years together, they are blessed with three wonderful children - Rahim, Zaynab, and Najeeb.
The legacy of Professor Wale Sulaiman and Mrs. Patricia Sulaiman is not only one of professional excellence but also a profound commitment to empowering and improving the lives of the most vulnerable populations in Nigeria. Their vision and dedication inspire us to create positive change, and their story serves as a testament to the boundless potential of the human spirit.