The Raw Materials Research and Development Council is taking proactive steps to ensure that the Federal Government’s suspension of raw shea nut exports translates into sustainable growth for the shea value chain and Nigeria’s economy.

According to the Director-General of RMRDC, Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, on Thursday in Abuja, the Council has received key requests from stakeholders and is now working to address them.

One of the key initiatives is a comprehensive mapping of shea trees across the country, which will provide data on available quantities and quality variations. “The second thing that we are going to do is to conduct a special mapping of shea trees in the country based on the quantity available and also the qualities,” Ike-Muonso explained. This mapping exercise is expected to support investors and processors in making informed decisions about investments in the shea processing business.

The Council will also rally stakeholders to review and update the five-year shea industry roadmap, which has now elapsed, to ensure supply sustainability as more processors and investors come on board. “In the next two weeks, we are going to be rallying all stakeholders for a review of the five-year roadmap, which has now elapsed,” Ike-Muonso stated.

The RMRDC also plans to empower women, who are the primary collectors of shea nuts, through capacity-building programmes. “The third thing we are going to do is to launch a national women cluster cooperatives to train women,” Ike-Muonso announced. This programme aims to improve the quality of shea nuts collected and processed by women, enabling them to participate more effectively in the industry.

The Council will also lead in shea cultivation efforts and is seeking global support to expand plantations. “We are going to be reaching out to the United States government to provide substantial support in the 10,000-hectare plantation of shea trees,” Ike-Muonso disclosed.

The RMRDC has developed a reporting mechanism to regularly brief the presidency on progress made, including capacity utilization, job creation, and foreign exchange savings. “We have also developed a mechanism here for reporting back to the presidency for regular updates on capacity utilization, the jobs created, foreign exchange saved on account of this particular decision that we have taken,” Ike-Muonso explained.