Nigeria has stepped up efforts to capture greater value from the global shea industry, taking a stronger leadership position at Shea 2026: Beyond Borders in Accra, Ghana.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) and signed by the Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture in the Office of the Vice President, Marion Moon.

The conference, convened by the Global Shea Alliance from April 27 to 29, is bringing together governments, private sector players and development partners to shape the future of the shea value chain.

According to the statement made available to newsmen, Tuesday, Nigeria is leveraging the platform to assert its position as the world’s leading producer, accounting for about 40 per cent of global shea nut supply, while seeking to increase its share of value from the sector.

The event was formally opened by Ghana’s Vice President, Jane Nana Opoku-Agyemang, who highlighted the importance of coordination among producing countries on trade, investment, sustainability and value addition.

The PFSCU noted that Nigeria’s delegation, which includes the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning the sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking at the conference, Enoh emphasised the need for a shift from raw exports to domestic processing.

“The era of exporting raw nuts while importing finished products must come to an end. The future lies in industrialisation, value addition and regional integration,” he said.

The statement said Nigeria’s engagement is anchored on agro-industrialisation, with a focus on boosting local processing, creating jobs and expanding participation in global markets.

It added that ongoing reforms under the Nigeria Industrial Policy are designed to support domestic processing, strengthen market systems and attract investment into value-added production.

Beyond economic gains, the PFSCU highlighted the shea sector’s role in rural development and environmental sustainability, noting that the protection and expansion of shea parklands contribute to afforestation, climate resilience and livelihoods, particularly for women who dominate production and processing.

Nigeria also used the platform to advocate stronger regional collaboration among African producing countries to ensure the continent captures more value from the commodity.

In a related development, the statement congratulated Ali Saidu of Salid Agriculture Nigeria Limited on his appointment as Chair of the Global Shea Alliance, describing it as a milestone for the country.

The PFSCU reaffirmed that Nigeria’s participation at Shea 2026 underscores its commitment to advancing agro-industrialisation, job creation and sustainable economic growth.