Stakeholders at Shea Conference organised by Shea Origin, US Aid and Bank of Industry in Abuja recently have highlighted the $3.8billion export potential of the Nigerian Shea industry.‎

The conference was geared at emphasizing and identifying the significant role of Shea in agribusiness. 

The conference also emphasised the need for standardizing and developing Nigeria’s Shea value chain as a critical arm of the nation’s non-oil export.  

The conference was organized by Shea Origin with immense support from the USAID|Nigeria Expanded Trade and Transport (NEXTT) project and Bank of Industry (BOI) in conjunction with National Shea Product Association of Nigeria (NASPAN).

The need for the conference was borne out of recent assertion by the Global Shea Alliance (a multi-stakeholder association committed to quality and sustainability of the Shea industry) that Nigeria’s estimated yearly loss to smuggling of exportable Shea produce to the global market is about N345 billion ($2.2 billion).

“This enormous loss to smuggling is undermining efforts to translate benefits of Shea production to national advantage, hence the need to standardize this arm of Nigeria’s non-oil export which can have tremendous impact on the economy and lives of rural women that are involved in Shea production” said Mrs Mobola Sagoe‎, MD/CEO of Shea Origin and Vice-President of NASPAN.

Deliberations at the 2-day conference also focused on standardizing the procedure of Shea nut processing in Nigeria by actively involving stakeholders at all levels in elaborate discussions and intense training sessions. 

This is expected to increase the competitiveness of Nigeria’s Shea butter in the export market.

‎Amongst other issues, the first day of the workshop focused on standardization and certification for international markets, $2million USAID|NIGERIA Project Development Facility and how it can be accessed to develop the Shea value chain along with discussions by First Ladies of key states involved in Shea production.

There were also deliberations on prospects of domesticating the cultivating of Shea tree which only grows in the wild.

Capacity building on the second day covered essential technical aspects of Shea processing, enhancing Shea’s business competitiveness through effective and standardized supply chain management with emphasis on safety.

Branding and packaging, product formulation and certification, export procedure and logistics, export financing and policy advocacy are others issues that will be covered during the training sessions.

Participants also had the opportunity to interact with industry experts on challenges of the sector and draw up action plans.

“By building local capacities and facilitating PPP dialogue for prompt Shea policy advocacy within the country, this conference will do much to further the development and vitality of the Shea industry” added Sagoe.

The event brought  together over 250 participants from a cross-section of stakeholders representing; trade associations & Chambers of Commerce, Commercial attaches of embassies and foreign missions, Export promotion agencies (NEPC, NEXIM and other government agencies), international development agencies, supply chain managers of multi-national companies in the Food & Beverages sector, banks and other financial institution, non-Government Organizations.
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