Nigeria produces 57℅ of the world’s Shea – Aisha Abubakar

diamond hope

January 31, 2018 1:36 PM

While globally Shea is in high demand, Nigeria is the highest producer of Shea.

On Tuesday, January 30, 2018, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, has said that Nigeria accounts for about 57% of the world Shea production.

Abubakar said this at the introduction of the upcoming 11th Annual International Shea Conference themed: “Shea 2018” focused on “Going Further Together” in Abuja.

She also said Nigeria stood to benefit immensely from the Shea Industry if the informal sector was properly harnessed. The minister said that the industry would boost employment generation, alleviate poverty, create wealth, sustain the environment and attract foreign investment.

“Nigeria accounts for about 57% of the world Shea nut production of which the global Shea market for chocolate value is approximately 117 billion dollars while that of the cosmetics industry stands at 382 billion dollars,” Abubakar said.

“The country would be on the right path to diversifying its economy through a strategic focus on the commodities export business. Shea butter has the potential to eradicate poverty, improve rural economies and also provide richness to our teeming youths,” she added.

On collaboration, she said that the ministry would collaborate with the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NCA) and the Ministry Agriculture to organize the 16th annual International African Cotton Congress.

Abubakar said that the Congress would focus on mechanized cotton farming as an essential equipment to boost African cotton production.

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