Niger State Government plans 5-year Shea Butter Development Programme
Abdul Mohammed Isa, Niger State.
The Niger State government in North-Central Nigeria has signed a 5-year partnership agreement with the UN-Women and Stanbic IBTC (a commercial bank in Nigeria) towards supporting the Shea butter sector for maximum value and economic growth.
According to the State government, the partnership is through the women cooperatives and entrepreneurs using the Climate Smart Agriculture Programme .
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, stated this at the closing ceremony of the UN-Women Nigeria Project on Women’s Economic Empowerment through Climate Smart Agriculture and Commissioning of the Kodo Shea Butter Processing Centre in Bosso Local Government Area of the State.
He mentioned key initiatives of the programme to include the development of a robust Niger State Shea Sector development policy and a 5-year implementation plan supported by GIZ, the establishment of new shea parklands, upgrade of existing shea butter processing centres, establishment and provision of additional facilities, among others.
“We need to work towards improving the quality of our shea products to meet international standard and enable us to get a competitive value for the products emanating from the State,” he said.
Alhaji Sani Bello who, however, expressed optimism about the ongoing interventions and collaborations with public and private sectors, mentioned that the State is on the verge of putting Nigeria in an enviable position in the world’s shea market.
