How shea butter is transforming women’s life in Taraba

The days when women across communities in Taraba State depended solely on their spouses for financial assistance are gradually coming to an end, as observed by The Guardian.

This shift was recently noticed, with several women in the nooks and crannies of Gashaka Local Government Council turning to shea butter processing as a source of income.

The change, as observed by The Guardian, marks a notable transformation in the economic landscape of Gashaka Local Government Council and its environs.

Spearheaded by Africa Nature Investors (ANI), the initiative, according to some of the women who spoke with our state correspondent, has provided them with the tools and knowledge to improve their financial status.

These women unanimously confirmed that the venture has allowed them to become financially independent, reducing their reliance on their spouses.

ANI, they revealed, recently sponsored them to travel to Niger State to learn modern shea butter processing techniques.

Now, these women are advocating for others across the state to embrace the opportunity and are calling on the state government to collaborate with ANI to enhance the program’s impact.

Despite the success of the shea butter processing, the women, who currently rely on traditional, labour-intensive methods, are pleading with the state government to join forces with ANI to provide them with modern equipment that will enable them to execute the shea butter processing business smoothly.

If the plea is urgently addressed, they believe it will enable them to meet the growing demand for shea butter, both in the state and across the country.

“Access to such technology would enable us to produce larger quantities of shea butter and further boost our economic standing and that of the state as a whole,” said one of the women, Hassan Abu.

Aligning her view with that of Hassan, Jamila Yakubu, who announced that “ANI has played a crucial role in supporting us by establishing various livelihood support groups, including savings and loan groups,” added, “With additional support from the government, our potential for expansion and success is undoubtedly significant.”

Noting the benefits of the training trip to Niger State, which she credited to ANI, another woman involved in the project also emphasised the need for modern processing equipment.

Confirming the women’s testimonies, the First-Class traditional ruler of the Council, Alhaji Zubairu Hammagabdo, said, “The women’s groups are not the only ones ANI’s foundation has been dedicating their time, energy, and resources to; they are also assisting us in youth empowerment programs.”

ANI’s Community Liaison Manager, David Peter, who identified ROSHAN Renewables as ANI’s implementing partner, said, “This collaboration has been instrumental in empowering the women of the state.”

Also sharing her perspective on the initiative’s impact, the Project Manager for Women Development at ROSHAN Renewables, Samira Simon, said, “Most of these women you see are now financially independent as a result of the training and knowledge they have acquired.”

Like the other women, she also called on the state government to provide modern equipment that will enable the women to extend their knowledge to others across the state.