Umar Salihu Adamu
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) Niger State Coordinating Office, in collaboration with the National Shea Products Association of Nigeria (NASPAN) Niger State Chapter and other strategic partners, has called for the urgent drafting of a comprehensive roadmap to transform the shea nut value chain in the nation into a major driver of rural prosperity, job creation, and export growth.
The call formed part of resolutions as contained in communique issued at the Investors’ Forum on Shea Nut Value Chain Development, held at the Old Ministry of Commerce and Cooperatives Minna, with the theme “From Farm to Global Markets: Building Resilient, Inclusive and Profitable Value Chain for Shea Nut in Niger State,” the forum brought together policymakers, investors, processors, researchers, farmers, cooperatives, development partners, corp members and regulatory agencies.
Declaring the forum open, the Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, represented by the Niger State Coordinator, Dr. Abdulrasheed Mohammed, described shea as a “strategic non-oil export commodity with immense potential to transform rural livelihoods if properly harnessed.”
The D.G. assured stakeholders of RMRDC’s readiness to strengthen partnerships, intensify research on climate-resilient shea varieties, and promote innovative processing technologies that will boost competitiveness in both local and global markets.
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In his presentation titled ” Shea Nut as a Catalyst for Niger’s Green Econom”, The Vice Chancellor of Edu Soko University, Bida, Prof. Mohammed Tanko Suleiman emphasized the importance of developing a harmonized work plan through a participatory process, noting that without a coordinated action plan, the sector risks remaining fragmented, limiting its ability to attract serious investment and scale.
Prof. Suleiman advocated for strong linkages between farmers, processors, and exporters, backed by consistent government support, especially in aspects of social amenities provision and encouraging shea tree planting.
Similarly, Prof. Mohammed Ibrahim of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, in his presentation on the topic “Unlocking Agribusiness Potential Shea Nut as an Economic Catalyst”, underscored the need for value addition, stressing that Niger State and Nigeria in general must move beyond raw nut exports to processed shea products that meet international quality standards.” He called on regulatory agencies to intensify certification and standardization compliance while urging development partners to support capacity building programs for rural women and youth.
Speakers and participants at the forum including the Director of Trade Niger State Ministry of Commerce Industry Trade Investment and, Mr. Danladi Umar, and Mrs. Jummai Abubakar, recommended deliberate investment across the value chain, from planting more shea trees to enhancing processing, marketing, and export systems. Other key recommendations included providing rural women and youth pickers with modern working tools and protective gear, improving farmer training and access to finance, adopting better post-harvest handling practices to reduce losses, and creating a multi-stakeholder monitoring platform to track implementation.
The Niger State Coordinator of the National Export Promotion Agency (NEPC) Mallam Bello Noma, through Mr. Umar Mohammed talked on “Global Shea Market Trend and Export Potential”, while Mr. Baba Etsuyankpa of the Niger State Export Commodity and Export Promotion Agency (NSCEPA), dwelled on Export Readiness and Global Market Access in Shea Products, while Mr. Shagaya Emmanuel of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), enlightened the forum on “Certification Guidelines in Shea Products, as Mrs. Halima Kadir of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) talked about the Global Standard Practice in Shea Value Chain.
Other speakers included Mr. A.N Amaechi of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abubakar Gwada of the GIZ, the National President of the Shea Products Association of Nigeria (NASPAN) through the Nigeria State Chapter Chairperson Mrs. Jummai Abubakar.
The Niger State Government, under Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago was urged by all the speakers at the Investors’ fourm to prioritize the shea sector as part of its rural development and economic diversification agenda, with enabling infrastructure and incentives to attract investment.
The event was jointly convened by the RMRDC Niger State Coordinating Office, the Shea Products Association of Nigeria (NASPAN) Niger State Chapter, Nigeria Export Promotion Agency (NEPC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Niger State Commodity and Export Promotion Agency (NSCEPA), Nigeria Customs Service, GIZ, and the Hardmore Entrepreneur and Skills Development Initiative (HESD Initiative) and other stakeholders who applauded the RMRDC and pledged continued collaboration to make Niger State a leading hub for shea nut development in Nigeria and West Africa. It included a tour of the exhibition grounds which was populated by exhibits by different players in the Shea butter value chain.
