Nigeria can Generate $10bn Annually From Shea Butter – Stakeholders
Agricultural stakeholders have said Nigeria has the potential of generating $10 billion annually across the shea butter value chain.
The development was disclosed in a statement by the Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA) Communication Strategist, Ms Opeyemi Ologun,when a delegation from the agency embarked on a two-day tour to Niger State to understudy the shea butter value chain to empower Kogi women.
According to the statement, the tour provided an opportunity for the agency to explore potential transfer of knowledge towards growing shea butter market in Kogi, adding that shea butter was a catalyst for women empowerment, economic growth and development in Nigeria.
The statement read in part, “The good news from Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) is that Nigeria is estimated to produce about 500,000 metric tonnes of shea nuts annually with the potential of generating $10 billion per annum across the value chain. Invariably, Niger state is focused on systematically organising the sector, attracting numerous partners; notable among this feat is the UN Women, 7 cooperatives have participated and received international training to train more Nigerian women. “Interestingly, Niger, Kogi and Kwara contribute 57 per cent to the shea butter value chain, while other states jointly contribute 43 per cent,” the statement disclosed.
Earlier, the Director General of the Niger State Commodity Exchange Promotion Agency (NSCEPA), Hajia Fatima Wushishi, described the tour and KEDA’s quest to understudy shea butter development in her state as highly professional and commendable.
According to her, Kogi’s diversification in agriculture is a great step in the right direction just as it’s exploring the various economically viable deposits across the state.
Agro Nigeria
