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By Chinyere Anyanwu
To tap fully into the global shea market valued at over $6.5 billion, the Federal Government has declared that its policy to restrict the export of raw shea nuts is a deliberate course of action, as the nation scales efforts to process more of what it produces and retain greater value within the country.
Speaking at the 18th Global Shea Alliance Annual Conference in Accra recently, Ghana, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh, reaffirmed Nigeria’s resolve to move beyond raw material exports and become a global hub for shea processing and innovation.
Senator Enoh, who joined the Vice President of Ghana, Jane Opoku-Agyemang, alongside stakeholders from across Africa and beyond, noted that Nigeria’s strategic policy shift is already yielding tangible results. The Federal Government initially banned the export of raw shea nuts in August 2025 for six months before extending the restriction for another year in February 2026, as part of efforts to encourage local processing and deepen value addition within the sector.
“Nigeria produces a significant share of the world’s shea nuts, but for too long, we have earned far less than the true value of what we produce. That is changing,” the minister stated.
“Our government has taken deliberate steps to encourage local processing instead of exporting raw materials. As a country, we are putting systems in place to improve quality, ensure traceability, and support women, who make up the majority of the workforce in this sector.”
Enoh emphasised that the administration’s position on the shea ban is firm and irreversible, designed to break the cycle of exporting jobs and wealth overseas. “The continued expansion of the global shea market during the rising demand for natural and sustainable products presents Africa with a unique opportunity to capture greater value.
Nigeria’s immediate priority is to significantly expand local processing capacity and increase export earnings. Nigeria is ready to play with our fellow West African and African countries, working collaboratively with all stakeholders to unlock the full economic potential of the shea sector for the benefit of our people and the continent,” he declared. The conference also witnessed the emergence of a Nigerian, Ali Saidu, Chief Executive Officer of Salid Agricultural Ltd., as President of the Global Shea Alliance Executive Committee, alongside the inauguration of Amaka Kolawole, Director of Business Development and Corporate Affairs at AAK; Mohammed Kontagora, President of NASPAN; and Yosola Onanuga, Head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at TGI Group, all Nigerians, as members of the Executive Committee.
Senator Enoh congratulated the newly elected and inaugurated members of the Executive Committee, describing their appointments as a reflection of Nigeria’s growing relevance and leadership within the global shea industry.
