The Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, has called for the development of a resilient, competitive and inclusive Shea industry capable of contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth.
Ike-Muonso made the call on Tuesday in Ibadan during a one-day investors’ forum on shea nut resources and development, organised by RMRDC in collaboration with the Oyo State Government and other partners. He was represented by the Deputy Director, South-West Coordinating Division of the council, Mrs. Oluwakemi Ajani.
The forum, themed “Enhancing Sheanut Resources and Its Export Potential for Economic Value,” focused on strengthening the Shea value chain to improve local livelihoods and boost export earnings.
According to Ike-Muonso, Nigeria — despite being one of the world’s largest producers of shea — remains a marginal player in the global market.
“Much of our production is exported in raw form with minimal value addition, thereby denying the economy the full benefits of this natural resource,” he said.
He noted that investing in the sector could create thousands of jobs, secure the livelihoods of women involved in the trade, and preserve important ecosystems. He also described the forum as a platform to mobilise finance, build partnerships and promote innovation in the sector.
“It represents a significant milestone in our collective drive to unlock the immense potential embedded in Nigeria’s raw material sector,” he added.
He said the country must transition from merely harvesting and processing shea nuts to improved packaging, certification, branding and export of finished products.
“Our mission at RMRDC has always been to promote sustainable industrial growth by fostering research, development and investment that reduce import dependency and create wealth for our people,” he said.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Abosede Owoye, described shea as one of the most economically important trees supporting rural livelihoods.
She said value addition in the Shea sector would unlock huge foreign exchange and create jobs.
“It’s medicinal and a great way to create employment. Shea butter has enormous economic value that remains untapped,” she noted.
In her remarks, the Oyo State Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Mr. Olabode Adeniyi — represented by Director Olayinka Raimi — emphasised the need to process and refine shea into finished products that attract higher market value.
Similarly, Chairman of the occasion, Mr. John Karunwi, stressed the importance of involving regulatory bodies such as NAFDAC to ensure international standards are met in shea butter production.
He also advocated youth participation and stronger collaboration across the value chain to prevent loss of raw materials and ensure the sustainability of the shea industry.
“We must explore the complete value chain to gain full benefits,” Karunwi said.
