The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has sealed a strategic partnership with the Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit (PFSCU) to transform Nigeria’s Shea value chain.

The collaboration seeks to ensure that value is added to Shea products before export, aligning with the Federal Government’s recent temporary ban on raw Shea nut exports. The initiative also supports national efforts to enhance food security.

The collaboration was sealed recently in Abuja during a visit by RMRDC Director General, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, to the PFSCU office in Abuja. The visit aimed to formalise RMRDC’s commitment to developing the Shea industry and to emphasise the importance of the proposed 30% Value Addition Bill in reshaping Nigeria’s economic landscape.

The PFSCU, inaugurated in July 2024 under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, plays a pivotal role in coordinating food systems and addressing food insecurity, rising food prices, and sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.

Welcoming the RMRDC delegation, Technical Assistant on Agriculture and PFSCU Executive Secretary, Marion Moon, said that while the PFSCU initially functioned in an advisory capacity, it quickly identified gaps in synergy among government agencies across all levels. She emphasised that effective development requires shared responsibility.

Moon highlighted the strategic timing of Nigeria’s Shea nut export ban, especially as neighbouring countries such as Ghana, Mali, Togo, and Burkina Faso, etc. have implemented similar bans. This regional trend has intensified pressure on Nigeria’s Shea supply, as foreign interests turn to the country for unprocessed Shea nuts, potentially eroding economic value.

“Given the increasing global demand for Shea, it is critical that we build strong regional alignment and prioritise domestic value addition,” she said, affirming that that partnering with RMRDC, a key agency in raw materials development with a proven track record, will be instrumental in ensuring the success of the policy and achieving the goals of the 30% Value Addition Bill.

Moon also shared insights from field engagements conducted across five states  – Kwara, Benue, Oyo, Niger, and Plateau – where the PFSCU interacted with over 2,000 Shea value chain actors, 65 processors, and representatives from five state ministries.

“We engaged pickers, aggregators, processors, and subnational officials to ensure inclusive policy development,” she noted.

Prof. Ike-Muonso described the temporary export ban as a necessary step towards early implementation of the Value Addition Bill. He reiterated his administration’s focus on adding value to Nigeria’s raw materials before export as a means of economic transformation and job creation.

He outlined RMRDC’s recent initiatives in the Shea sector as follows:

• Technology Upgrade:Upgraded indigenous Shea processing equipment for the Araromi Women Association in Agbaku-Eji, Kwara State.
• Capacity Building:Trained women and cooperatives in Kwara, Kebbi, Gombe, and Niger States, as well as the FCT, on improved Shea nut collection and processing.
• Pilot Production Plant:Established a facility for producing stearic and oleic acids—vital to the food and pharmaceutical industries—at RMRDC’s Research and Demonstration Plant.
• Strategic Roadmap:Co-developed a five-year Shea industry roadmap with the National Shea Products Association of Nigeria (NASPAN) in 2019.
• International Collaboration:Partnered with the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations (WAITRO) in 2018 to train 263 Shea stakeholders, with technical support from Malaysian experts.
• Agroforestry Projects:With EU funding and in collaboration with the Global Shea Alliance, implemented agroforestry systems in Oyo and Niger States and set up a demonstration Shea farm in Gawu, Niger State.

Beyond Shea, Prof Nnanyelugo highlighted other raw materials interventions, including a national request to budget for the planting of six million coconut trees, for economic gains and partly to support deforestation control efforts.

He revealed that RMRDC is developing gas-replacement technology derived from coconut, which offers a safer and more affordable alternative for households.

Prof Ike-Muonso also highlighted his visit to SALID Agriculture Limited, Nigeria’s largest Shea refining facility, to explore collaboration opportunities. He described the achievement as world class and hailed the MD/CEO, Alhaji Saidu Ali, for setting up such a factory dedicated to domestic Shea processing.

He noted that RMRDC maintains a Raw Materials Information System (RMIS), a nationwide database of raw material availability and distribution, and operates Coordinating Offices in all 36 states and the FCT. Plans are underway to expand this presence to the local government level to better support PFSCU initiatives.

Speaking on environmental concerns, the he identified illegal charcoal export as a major threat to Shea trees, leading to widespread deforestation, stressing the need for public sensitisation and the promotion of briquettes, made from Shea waste, as a sustainable alternative to charcoal.

He also called for quality and quantity mapping to estimate Shea tree population and yield across states, emphasising the importance of accurate data for effective planning.

The meeting ended with both parties agreeing to host a “Shea Post-Mortem“, involving key stakeholders in the industry to refine strategies and fast-track implementation.

Moon praised RMRDC’s structures and reach, which she said would be pivotal to grassroots engagement.

She emphasised the importance of taking the message of government support and policies directly to the communities. “This post-mortem will help us improve communication and awareness through various media, and support targeted interventions through women’s groups,” she said.

She added that PFSCU would also push for the expedited passage of the 30% Value Addition Bill, which she described as essential to advancing the Nigeria First economic policy under President Bola Tinubu.