A Call to Mr. President
In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is charting a bold course to reposition its economy on the foundation of value addition, industrial growth, and non-oil export expansion. One policy direction that recently caught national attention is the restriction on raw shea nut exports.
As an industrialist, I wholeheartedly commend this bold move. The policy aligns with the President’s vision to encourage local processing, generate jobs, and create new avenues of foreign exchange for our nation. However, as with all transformative policies, there is room to build on this foundation to ensure Nigeria not only restricts exports but also rises as a global player in the shea butter value chain.
The Global Opportunity
The global beauty and cosmetics industry is projected to exceed $500 billion in 2025, with shea butter standing out as one of the most sought-after raw materials for creams, lotions, soaps, and haircare products.
Nigeria already accounts for about 45% of global shea nut production, yet less than 10% is processed locally into shea butter and derivatives. The rest is either exported raw or underutilized, limiting the country’s potential in this booming global market.
Importantly, the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) creates a strategic platform for Nigeria to export shea butter and its derivatives across Africa tariff-free, positioning us as the continent’s hub for shea-based products. This not only enhances regional trade but also strengthens Nigeria’s leadership role in driving intra-African commerce under Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
If Nigeria harnesses this potential by investing in processing, refining, and branded exports, the nation could capture a sizeable share of this market while generating billions in non-oil foreign exchange inflows.
Empowering Communities, Creating Jobs
BEYOND the numbers, the shea value chain has a strong social impact. Across rural communities, over 500,000 Nigerian women are directly engaged in shea nut picking and initial processing. With proper investment and government incentives, this figure could double, creating sustainable livelihoods and lifting countless households out of poverty.
If even 25% of Nigeria’s annual shea nut harvest were processed locally into shea butter and exported, the country could conservatively earn between $200–300 million annually in foreign exchange, firmly establishing shea as one of our top non-oil exports.
This is why I believe the Federal Government’s continued support and investment incentives for private sector players in this industry will be critical to unlocking the full potential of the shea economy.
My Humble Contribution
AT 29 years old, I have the privilege of serving as the Executive Director of BUA Foods Plc, Nigeria’s largest listed company, where I work daily on strategies to expand our nation’s agro-industrial base and boost non-oil exports. In addition, I have personally invested in an oil mill through Munalco Industries, a venture I established to drive value addition in agro-processing.
I must also acknowledge the visionary leadership and commitment to national development of the Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, under whom I have been blessed with the lifetime opportunity to learn and work directly. His passion for Nigeria’s growth has deeply shaped my outlook as a young industrialist and inspired my commitment to advancing value-added industries for our nation.
As a young Nigerian entrepreneur, I see immense promise in the shea industry not just for business growth but for national economic transformation. With the right policy support, collaboration, and financing access, we can scale shea butter production to compete globally, just as Nigeria has done in cement, sugar, and other industrial sectors.
A Call to the President
Your Excellency, I write not only to commend the wisdom of this policy but also to humbly request a personal audience with you. The opportunity to sit with Mr. President and present practical strategies for building a globally competitive shea industry is one I deeply value.
The Renewed Hope Agenda provides the perfect foundation for this vision, and with Federal Government backing, Nigeria can transition from a raw commodity exporter into a hub for value-added shea butter exports, capturing foreign exchange, empowering women, and contributing significantly to GDP growth.
This is more than a policy discussion — it is a national opportunity. With your leadership, Nigeria can transform shea into one of our most valuable non-oil exports.
It would be my greatest honor to meet with His Excellency to present in detail how this vision can be achieved, and to work together in ensuring that Nigeria becomes the global home of shea butter.
Rabiu serves as the Executive Director of BUA Foods Plc, the largest publicly listed company in Nigeria.
