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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 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 27-29, 2026, 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, 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, Abubakar Kyari, and the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning the sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

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. (Guardian)