With the humongous wealth potentials hidden in the shea industry, more Nigerian women are beginning to buy into the shea tree farming, as a means of escape from poverty. However, there are challenges to be surmounted. Yetunde Oladeinde of The Nation, who interacted with stakeholders, explores.
Shea butter is a popular moisturiser among women. A source of beauty for cosmetics as well as a huge income earner for rural women.
According to experts, over 16 million women are involved in the processing of shea butter across the sub-Saharan Africa with an estimated 1.84 billion shea trees.
Despite the health hazards and cumbersome conditions under which the women work to export over 500,000 tonnes per year, revenue and export in the past 13 years has tripled.
Experts have however, also noted that there is a lot more to be explored. The big question is: could this be because it is mostly driven by women.
Mobola Sagoe, CEO, Shea Origins goes down memory lane to talk about the challenges, opportunities and some of the interventions carried out.
“The focus should be, how we can move forward in the Shea sector using technology to achieve success, especially in the export market. As a manufacturer of Shea butter, we have a group of women who are moving in the same direction when it comes to export. Over the years, we have seen the different challenges and till date there are still quite a few challenges, knowing very well that we have so many products in Nigeria”.
A woman displaying Shea Butter
Sagoe goes on to talk about branding and packaging for the products. “Most of the brands are as good as global brands but the problems is packaging. We need to move to the next level using technology. Not just the machines but the different apps that you can also use to generate income.”
Technology, she opines, is the way to go. “If you don’t get into it, then you can’t take your products far. Tech is to educate you about the opportunities, it is the tool needed to move forward. The project that we have done in the past few months have helped to transform lives, especially in the rural areas. The rural women can be your only source of supply and if they are not trained, nothing is going to happen. We have gotten to the level now where we can work with what we have and sell on the platforms.”
Their capacity, Sagoe added, has also witnessed tremendous improvement and growth. “We have moved those women used to producing say 10 tonnes to producing up to 200 tonnes as a cluster.”
In addition, Sagoe and her team have been able to get them to team up as organisations, and give them proper training on the job.
Women processing Shea Butter
“This project has really taken a lot of rural women to the next level and we the manufacturers of the finished products now have access to quality butters. Technology is important to enhance the work of the rural women. We don’t see their challenges. You don’t know the different things that they go through on a daily basis”.
Sagoe added: “When we started, very few people knew about Shea but the quality of the butter was not good enough. The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) partnered with us and set up centres in Taraba, Kebbi, Niger, Oyo and Kwara state. This processing centres have transformed shea butter production. But we still have a long way to go. As long as we keep moving, technology would take us to the next level where we can compete favourably with international brands”.
Sagoe continued: “They do not have knowledge at all. If they know what has been done, they would have taken it to another level a long time ago. Today, there is so much going on in Nigeria and people don’t know which one to hold onto. So for that reason, I cannot blame the government. What I can blame them for is that they need to seek knowledge about the quality of what we have in Nigeria”.
This, she stressed, is important not only in shea but every single commodity because of export.
“How can you talk about export, when you have so many things that you can import here in Africa. Then you don’t know the volume, you don’t even know the capacity”.
The employment opportunities in the sector have not been explored. “To be honest with you, I cannot give you a specific figure. What I know for sure is that if we have 21 states producing shea butter and we have trees in these states, then you can begin to imagine the multiplier effects. You can imagine if all those states are empowered by mini factories, production centers in the different villages or different local government. That alone can generate a lot of income and remove poverty from that environment”.
She added that making use of solar energy and other tools had helped to improve the capacity of the women in different ways. “Recently, we started talking about putting solar system for electricity in Shaki, Oyo State, because we have major issues when it comes to electricity. We were not able to access the generator, and while it continues to pollute the environment, we started looking for solutions via solar”.
In 2016, Sagoe and her team introduced a cook stove to the women. “This cook stove is regenerating technique, where you are able to reduce emission of free radicals. We are able to reduce the firewood that they use for cooking. You are able to reduce that smoke that causes cancer. So, you eliminate that with the cook stove. We were able to give out these cook stoves to a thousand women at the time and we still do it once in a while”.
To buttress her point, Sagoe explained that they usually want the women that they have worked with to understand that it is not just about you giving back to the society, they must also contribute their quota.
“We also want these women to understand that it is not about having free gifts. Now, it is no more free but we are still not charging. What we do is that when you have done something that we are able to say thank you, we use that as an opportunity to give it as a gift”.
Next, she talked about financial support using the cooperative society. “We have the cooperative that has moved from where they used to be to a better level by pushing and also taking the training to another level”.
Shea as substitute for chemical products
One thing that Sagoe is also passionate about is the need to use natural products like shea for beauty instead of chemicals which comes with a number of side effects. “For someone who has also been in the beauty sector for 38 years, I don’t believe in those things. I believe in all natural and at the same time why they do those things is that everybody wants to look good. But nobody wants to walk the walk. So, fast track is what they like. But at the end of the day, you crash land. When something is supposed to live a lifespan of 10 decades and then you want it to do 20 immediately.
“Definitely, there is going to be some damage somewhere. This is where cancer comes in for some people. You g for things like regenerating your skin. Or you can decide to cut part of your skin to do this and that. It has to come out somewhere else. God created you to be in a particular way, He has also made all things available. We heard that Cleopatra, one of the most beautiful women used shea butter. She didn’t go out looking for hydroquinone or whatever. They have been using all these natural products since the olden days. So, why are we not following that?”.
For Patrick Gouka, an expert from the Netherlands, who has been with CBI since 2006, it is important to encourage the stakeholders to maximise the opportunities in the sector.
“What we do is to support local SME supporters to get credit to do business in European markets. We do that in potential export sectors and one of this sectors is the shea sector. We noticed that there is an increase in demand for this ingredient used for cosmetics in the European market”.
Gouka goes on to talk about the opportunities in the cosmetics industry. “We are already working with 12 selected exporting companies and we have helped majority of them to European markets”.
Now you want to know how much Nigeria can get yearly in terms of foreign investment and how it can be properly harnessed.
“I don’t know that by heart but we think it is quite considerable. Up till now, Nigeria cannot supply the quantity that is demanded in the European market.”.
Next Gouka talked about some of the challenges encountered. “These include quality and what is required for European markets. It is not just about delivery of the products but doing it in a sustainable way. Sustainable issues are high on the agenda of European clients, gender, employment and drawing attention to climate issues. We try to focus on youths as a target group so that they can find employment in the sector.
Gouka believes that things would get better when all hands are on deck in the sector. “I think one of the main points in the shea sector is getting the public and private sectors working together; create opportunities and trust each other. We have been working on branding as well. It is also important to link up with the buyers, understand the local, financial and legal requirements for the European markets “.
And now Peter Hurst who has worked on different projects for Africa takes you into the focus and the supporting agencies. “What spurred me is the potential. It is a product which is wanted everywhere. Sadly, Nigeria is not performing. Nigeria has the largest crops of sheanuts in the 21 countries. We are focused on export development “.
What exactly is the problem you ask?
“There hasn’t been enough investment in processing. That is why we are going to Ghana. In so many ways, Ghana has taken the lead justifiably in foreign investments. We need to take our place and maximise the potentials available “.
Who should invest and how?
Hurst responds this way: “It should be both the public and private sector; particularly some of the large buyers. They have been a bit reluctant to invest in Nigeria and they have got investment in Ghana. We are in a process of transformation and over the next years, we will be measuring the impact of what we are doing “.
Hurst continued: “There are 21 countries below the Sahara where shea is grown and 16 million women are involved in that process. The women are dominant. But they get the worst benefits because they are not rewarded for their efforts”.
Managing Director of SecureID, Kofo Akingkugbe, believes that a collaborative approach will help to strengthen the projects and bring about the required changes. “Every entrepreneur’s journey starts with a dream. There are four pillars that have defined my entrepreneurship journey. Entrepreneurship, the spirit of enterprise, is required to ensure that the industry becomes the desired industry. I have a dream and that dream has taken roots today. The dream was to substitute import and to actually produce this smart cards locally. That dream is now a huge factory in Isolo with staff strength of over 500 people and exported to 21 countries across Africa”.
Cornelius Karkraba of the Global Shea Alliance, which was established in 2011 also gave an overview of the shea sector.
“Our focus includes industry promotion, sustainability and maintaining standards. We have 1.84 billion she trees existing currently. Nigeria, Mali and Burkina Faso are the largest producers and it boast of 85 per cent cocoa butter equivalent. There has been $125 million sustainability investment pumped in from 2018 till date”.
He added: “The alliance and USAID works with 12 partners in Nigeria. There are 43 warehouses and 34,541 women reached distributing about 17,500 shea seedlings in the past two years. There is a resilient agro forestry shea farm model and three francophone countries have adopted the model based on the success stories”.
Transporting the product is also a big challenge with bad roads and poor infrastructure. Mrs. Elizabeth Olowofila, Managing Director of Think Bikes takes you through the options available on how to improve mobility in the sector.
“The opportunities are many but we need to network, improve quality control as well as data decision via analysis. The present limitations are linked to infrastructure and it is important to give this the attention required”.
She stressed that Think Bikes has helped to reduce the challenges for the women. “We are exploring innovative solutions that are affordable. The bikes enhance mobility and logistics in shea processing. It is electric, eco-friendly, efficient and enhance profitability. It is faster for delivery and there is a 95 per cent reduction on maintenance. We target waste recyclers and small farm holders.” (NATION)
The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has admitted Enugu Air as Member, extending the Association’s membership base in Nigeria’s fast-growing domestic aviation market and reaffirming AFRAA’s commitment to supporting the continued development of African carriers across the continent.
This was announced by AFRAA in Nairobi on Wednesday, making Enugu Air the 50th Member of the association, joining the AFRAA airline fraternity, collectively representing more than 85 per cent of total international traffic carried by African airlines.
Speaking on the occasion, AFRAA Secretary General, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, said, “We are delighted to welcome Enugu Air into the AFRAA fraternity.
“As a state-backed carrier serving Nigeria’s rapidly expanding domestic market, Enugu Air represents the kind of homegrown investment that is vital to building resilient air connectivity across our continent.
“We look forward to supporting the airline through the IOSA certification process and to its continued growth within the AFRAA membership, as we work together to advance the cause of unified African skies.”
Reacting to the development, the CEO of Enugu, Capt Tolu Ita, described the admission into AFRAA as a major milestone in the airline’s short history.
“We are honoured to join the AFRAA fraternity. This membership underscores Enugu Air’s commitment to safe, reliable, and affordable air travel for Nigerians while contributing to the vision of a unified African aviation market.
“We look forward to collaborating with fellow AFRAA members and leveraging the association’s support as we grow our network and pursue IOSA certification,” Tolu stated.
Founded on July 7, 2025, Enugu Air commenced commercial operations with a fleet of Embraer E170/E190/E195 aircraft.
The airline, which has its headquarters in Enugu and operates from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, currently serves nine domestic destinations including Enugu, Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano and Benin City.
As part of the airline’s growth strategy, Enugu Air plans to expand further across Nigeria and, in subsequent phases, to launch regional and international routes across Africa, Europe, and beyond.
As part of its growth strategy, Enugu Air plans to expand further across Nigeria and, in subsequent phases, to launch regional and international routes across Africa, Europe, and beyond.
The admission of Enugu Air aligns with AFRAA’s strategic priorities and strengthens the voice of the association. Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation and one of its fastest-growing economies, remains central to the realization of a truly integrated African aviation market.
Meanwhile, founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry.
The association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable air transport industry in Africa, where African airlines become key players and drivers of African economic development.
AFRAA membership cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators.
The association’s members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines.
Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji
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The Nigeria Revenue Service has issued comprehensive guidelines on the taxation of virtual assets, providing a regulatory framework for the taxation of cryptocurrency and other digital asset transactions in line with the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025.
The new guidelines are aimed at taxpayers, Virtual Asset Service Providers, Peer-to-Peer marketplace operators, tax practitioners and individuals engaged in virtual asset activities, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to expand the country’s tax base and strengthen compliance within the rapidly growing digital economy.
In a public notice issued on Monday, the NRS said it had formally released the Guidelines on the Taxation of Virtual Assets.
According to the agency, the document establishes a clear administrative framework governing tax obligations for virtual asset transactions in Nigeria.
“The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) wishes to inform taxpayers, Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), Peer-to-Peer (P2P) marketplace operators, tax practitioners, and all persons engaged in virtual asset activities that it has issued the Guidelines on the Taxation of Virtual Assets.
“The Guidelines provide a clear administrative framework for the taxation of virtual assets in Nigeria. They set out the applicable tax obligations including registration, reporting and record-keeping obligations, valuation principles, and the tax treatment of virtual asset transactions in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025.”
The NRS said the initiative forms part of broader reforms designed to improve certainty in tax administration as digital assets become increasingly integrated into the country’s financial system.
“The issuance of these Guidelines is part of the Service’s commitment to providing clarity, certainty, and consistency in the administration of Nigeria’s tax laws as they relate to the rapidly evolving virtual asset ecosystem. The Guidelines are intended to promote voluntary compliance, enhance transparency, and support the development of a fair and efficient tax framework for digital asset transactions.”
The agency urged all affected stakeholders to study the new provisions and ensure full compliance with their tax obligations.
“All affected taxpayers and stakeholders are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the Guidelines and ensure full compliance with the applicable tax obligations.”
It added that the guidelines are available for download on its official website.
The release of the guidelines marks another step in Nigeria’s evolving regulatory approach to digital assets. In recent years, Nigerian authorities have moved from largely restricting cryptocurrency-related activities to establishing clearer legal and tax frameworks for the sector.
The guidelines also follow the enactment of the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, which introduced sweeping reforms to the country’s tax system, including provisions covering emerging sectors such as virtual assets.
The reforms are expected to improve tax administration, increase government revenue and provide greater regulatory certainty for businesses and investors operating in Nigeria’s digital economy.
The Yenagoa Division of the Federal High Court on Friday dismissed a suit challenging the divestment of Shell from onshore assets.
The suit filed by King Bubaraiye Dakolo, traditional ruler of Ekpetiama in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa also sought redress and remediation of cumulative pollution of Dakolo’s domain for 40 years.
Dakolo alleged that the divestment by Shell did not follow the stipulated guidelines in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
However, presiding judge, Justice Ayo Emmanuel in a ruling dismissed the case for being filed out of time adding that under the statute, any objections to divestment on guy to be filed within three months.
Emmanuel also held that the traditional ruler lacked the ‘locus standi’ to institute the case as he had no role in the divestment.
The judge further stated that the plaintiff failed to explore and exhaust the conflict resolution mechanism mechanisms by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission,
The judge noted that the failure according to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)asked the suit invalid.
“Plaintiff’s failure to satisfy the mandatory statutory conditions precedent under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) strips this Court of jurisdiction.
“The Plaintiff further contended that the injuries complained of constitute a “continuing injury, thereby creating a continuous cause of action that escapes the limitation periods.
“However, looking closely at the pleadings, the Plaintiff joins historical grievances stretching back decades with specific events that allegedly took place around 2024. A continuous injury means a recurrence of the legally wrongful act itself, not the continuous persistence of the injurious effects of a singular past act.
“From the facts presented, the alleged causes of action against the public officers (the 4th, 5th, and 6th Defendants) arose well outside the mandated 3-month period prescribed by POPA.
“Furthermore, the claims touching on tortious liability are caught by the 5-year limitation threshold under Section 16 of the Limitation Law of Bayelsa State,” Emmanuel ruled.
Reacting, Counsel to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Lawrence Edet who spoke for the defendants thanked the court for dispensing justice to their favour.
Counsel to Dakolo said that they will pursue the case beyond the trial court and will be heading to the court of appeal.
Environmental justice group, Social Action in its reaction to the judgement expressed regret that the court had to ignore the quest for environmental justice and technicalities.
Dr Prince Edegbuo
Resource Justice Manager at Social Action said: “It is very very unfortunate that a matter as important as this that is gaining international traction in home countries where these international companies come from and the activities being condemned but our legal system finds it convenient to discard a case that has caused so much hardship and suffering on the people.
“The pollution had devastated the environment and denied people of their livelihoods and even affected the reproductive health of the people, it is heartbreaking that the Federal High Court struck out this case.
“We will meet at the Appeal Court, we will not relent, we shall continue to support the Ekpetiama people in this litigation, this is just the court of first instance,” he said.
Ekpetiama community is in the neighbourhood and part of host communities to the Gbarain-Ubie gas plant and Gbarain oilfields.
Listed as defendants in the suit No. FHC/YNG/CS/81/2025, are Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Shell Petroleum N.V, Shell UK PLC.
Others are Attorney General of the Federation, The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Minister of Petroleum Resources and Renaissance Energy Africa Ltd.
It will be recalled that Renaissance Energy Africa, a consortium of indigenous oil firms in March 2025 acquired the onshore and shallow waters oil and gas assets hitherto operated by SPDC, following the divestments by Shell UK PLC, the parent company to SPDC.
