Bees Abroad joined the journey of the Ayonitemi Beekeepers group over 20 years ago. In the last 20 years, the Ayonitemi Beekeepers have gone from strength to strength. This is their story, as told by Oreyemi Babatunde.

The Birth of Ayonitemi Beekeepers

In 1999, 25 years ago, a group of 10 visionary individuals—7 men and 3 women—came together in Ijebu Ode, Nigeria, to form the Ayonitemi Beekeepers. Their mission was to alleviate poverty and create sustainable livelihoods through beekeeping.

The group moved quickly and received training from the Ijebu Ode Development Board on Poverty alleviation in the same year they set up, but the training was limited. Recognizing the need for further expertise, they reached out to Bees Abroad in 2003, which provided comprehensive training and mentorship over a number of years.

Transformative Training and New Opportunities

The transformative experience of working with Bees Abroad enabled the Ayonitemi Beekeepers to develop a beekeeping calendar tailored to their region’s unique climate and needs. They also learned to create secondary products from beeswax, a material they once discarded.

Empowered with new knowledge, the Ayonitemi Beekeepers were able to secure a loan from the Bank of Industry, Nigeria and was the first set of beekeepers to achieve this. The group also received grants in the form of materials input from the Fadama II project. The Fadama II project is a Federal govt of Nigeria project in partnership with the World Bank to assist farmers with farming inputs to help increase production.

Terra Madre 2010

Showcasing Success on the Global Stage

The group went from strength to strength and in 2008 and 2010 to a representative from Ayonitemi Beekeepers was supported by Bees Abroad to attend Terra Madre, a conference organized by Slow Food International, an organization that promotes eco-friendly farming and high-quality food, including honey. The conference was held in Italy where the Ayonitemi Beekeeper’s honey was showcased at the event’s honey bar. More recently, the honey was among honey from African beekeepers nominated for the Ark of Taste and it received a good commendation.

Inspiring Growth and Mentorship

The Ayonitemi Beekeepers success inspired the formation of two additional beekeeping groups: Oyinladun and Irepodun. The groups were created as Ayonitemi Beekeepers reached maximum membership. Interest in membership grew fast when individuals saw the achievements of the Ayonitemi Beekeepers and craved to start a beekeeping venture themselves. The members of the mother group, Ayonitemi Beekeepers, became part of the coordinators to the two new groups. Directing, training and mentoring the new members. The total number of Beekeepers jumped to 52 members at that period, with the age bracket of new members between 20 to 45 years and the males being dominant.

Impact on the Community

The beekeeping venture had a positive impact in the lives of the Ayonitemi Beekeepers. Income generated enabled them to pay back the loan received from the Ijebu ode Dev Board on Poverty reduction, pay for kids schools fees and to provide food for the household. The venture became a primary source of income generated for the household. One member of the Ayonitemi Beekeepers rose to become a country trainer for Bees Abroad, representing the southwest region. This achievement not only brought pride to the group but also ensured the continuation of their mission to spread beekeeping expertise.

The group became a beacon of sustainable development in Ijebu Ode, demonstrating the power of collaboration, determination, and innovative training. Their story serves as a testament to the impact that can be achieved when individuals come together to create positive change in their community.