REPORT ON SHEA SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

REPORT ON SHEA SECTOR DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
HELD AT NICON LUXURY HOTEL, FCT, ABUJA FROM 14TH 15TH OCTOBER 2015.
Theme:
Shea Sector Development in Nigeria - Challenges, Gains
& Prospects
20th October 2015
1|Page
Contents
1.0
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................ 3
2.0
WORKSHOP DETAILS .............................................................................................. 4
2.1
OPENING CEREMONY ....................................................................................... 4
2.2
PLENARY SESSION ............................................................................................... 4
2.3
WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS DAY 1............................................................... 4
2.4
WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS DAY 2............................................................... 5
3.0
DEMOGRAPHY OF PARTICIPANTS ...................................................................... 7
4.0
RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................ 8
5.0
ACTION PLAN .......................................................................................................... 9
Appendix 1: Photo Speak............................................................................................. 11
Appendix 2: Speakers Profile ...................................................................................... 13
Appendix 3: Papers presented ...................................................................................... 13
Appendix 4: Feedback from participants ..................................................................... 14
2|Page
1.0
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Shea Origin, in collaboration with the National Shea Products Association of
Nigeria (NASPAN) and with support from the USAID Nigeria Expanded Trade
and Transport (NEXTT) Program organized a 2-day Shea sector
development conference with the theme “Shea Sector Development in
Nigeria - Challenges, Gains & Prospects”
The event was aimed at addressing the challenges, gains and prospects for
the industry, with particular focus on women empowerment and
investments in processing centers at the village level to produce exportquality Shea butter. Participants were also educated on quality standards
for international markets, advances in Shea cultivation, access to finance,
market linkages and opportunities for investments.
In attendance were representatives from NGOs, women cooperatives,
private sector firms, and government entities.
Participants were communicated via official letters and email
correspondences. Follow-up was made through calls and actual visits to
the
organisations.
Registration
was
also
done
online
at
www.Sheaorigin.com/conference. Awareness was also created on social
media.
Some of the organisations made presentations on PowerPoint slides while
some just talked about the subject matter.
The event was closely monitored by the planning committee to ensure that
it was well delivered and feedback from participants confirmed that the
event was well done. Shea products were on sale and exhibition
throughout the two days thereby serving as a marketing platform as well as
opportunity for networking. Participants were encouraged to join NASPAN
to enjoy the benefits that it offers to its members.
Did the event achieve its aim? I would say to a large extent. The post
conference action plans will further ensure that pending expectations are
met.
3|Page
2.0
WORKSHOP DETAILS
2.1 OPENING CEREMONY
The event started with an opening speech by the CEO Shea Origin, Mrs
Mobola Sagoe. After this, goodwill messages were delivered both by the
representative of the USAID Nigeria mission director and the Executive
Director, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) respectively. The
workshop was officially declared open by the wife of the Vice President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Dolapo Osibajo.
2.2 PLENARY SESSION
During the first plenary session, an overview of the Shea sector
development in Nigeria was given by the 2nd Vice President of Nigeria Shea
Products Association of Nigeria (NASPAN), while Marc Shirman, Chief of
Party for the Nigeria Expanded Trade & Transport (NEXTT) project gave an
overview of the USAID’s effort in providing support and opening up
opportunities in the Shea sector.
2.3 WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS DAY 1
Papers were presented by the following organisations with Q&A following.
1. Prospects of Shea tree domestication delivered by the Nigeria
Institute for Oil palm research (NIFOR)
2. Quality Standards for Shea kernels and butter, Standardization and
Certification for International Markets delivered by Standards
Organization of Nigeria (SON)
3. The role of government in the development of the Shea sector in
Nigeria delivered by Federal Ministry of Investment, Trade & Industry
4. Standard Requirements for Export Financing delivered by Bank of
Industry
4|Page
5. Wealth creation through Shea processing delivered by Nigeria
Investment Promotion Council
An overview was given on the Project Development Fund (PDF), an
intervention provided by the USAID NEXTT project to support private sector
participation in the Shea sector. The PDF provides grants for beneficiaries as
pre-investment assistance to help agro based businesses to expand. These
include the development of business plans, feasibility studies, Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) etc. Currently a country-wide Shea sector study is
being conducted and part of the output will result in a manual that will
serve as a guide for sector participants.
Note: See appendix 1 for papers presented
2.4 WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS DAY 2
Day 2 started on a very exciting note with a practical and expert-led
session sponsored by Propcom Maikarfi. The session was on how to make
money in the Shea cosmetics value chain, cost structure and profitability
assessment in determining a tangible action plan. This was facilitated by Ms
Francesca Brenda Opoku, a Social Entrepreneur and Chief Executive
Officer of Solution Oasis Ltd; a Ghanaian agro processing company that
manufactures the BEAUTY SECRETS and KIPENZI ranges of natural beauty
products from Shea Butter and Agricultural waste.
The session lasted for 3 hours and it was highly interactive and engaging.
During the session, participants were divided into focus groups representing
processors, exporters, Shea cosmetic producers/vendors, trainers, regulators
and new entrants.
5|Page
Participants were involved in discussing the needs and the solutions to
pressing issues that have hindered the prosperity of the sector from different
perspectives. The key issues discussed were quality of Shea butter itself,
branding & packaging, certification, training and institutional support. An
action plan was articulated as an outcome of this session and this is
presented later in this report.
After the general session, three concurrent small group break-out sessions
followed. Participants had earlier indicated the groups they would like to
attend based on their interest. The following topics were covered:
Room 1/Group 1:
Export Procedures & Logistics by NEPC and Export financing by NEXIM
Room 2/Group 2:
Supply chain management (Moving Shea from field to market) by Mr
Williamson of OYSADEP (Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme)
and Accessing microcredit for the local market by Titi Ojo (SME consultant)
Room 3/Group 3:
Product formulation and certification by NAFDAC and Branding &
Packaging guidelines & procedures for local & export markets by NEPC
6|Page
3.0
DEMOGRAPHY OF PARTICIPANTS
This session presents an analysis of participation in term of gender and
sector representation
GENDER REPRESENTATION
Male
86, 49%
88, 51%
Female
Male – 86
Female – 88
Total number of
participants - 174
SECTOR REPRESENTATION
8, 4%
24, 14%
Private sector – 142
NGO – 24
Government - 8
142, 82%
Private Sector
7|Page
NGO
Govt
4.0
RECOMMENDATIONS
COMMENDATIONS
We would like to commend everyone that played a role in the planning of
this event namely Shea Origin, USAID NEXTT, Mahogany Events (event
coordination), BOI (sponsor), PropCom MaiKarfi (sponsor), Nigeria Export
Promotion Council (sponsor), PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc and Mrs Titi Ojo
(consultant)
The team work is highly commendable and deeply appreciated.
FEEDBACK FROM PARICIPANTS
Some of the participants were interviewed to get feedback on how they
felt about the Shea conference and what they look forward to
subsequently. See appendix 3
RECOMMENDATIONS
There is need to hold this event periodically to foster discussions that will
move to sector forward. This forum will serve as a platform to add value,
enlighten on developments, evaluate performance and hold ourselves
accountable to what we have committed to do.
8|Page
5.0
ACTION PLAN
During the sessions, the following were highlighted as areas that needed
action and follow-up.
Focus area
Action Plan
NASPAN
The new NASPAN was challenged by all present to organise
itself better than the past regimes and surpass expectations to
gain the trust of members (potential and existing)
NASPAN should carry along its members now more than ever.
The need to find effective ways to disseminate information
among its members is critical. Members want to get value from
their registration with the association.
NASPAN should protect the women processors especially and
empower them through quality improvement trainings and any
other trainings that will add value to the business. If possible
help with the standardization of pricing so that no one is being
cheated. It Is important that quality is ensured across board as
it will make Shea competitive in all locations
PRODUCT
PACKAGING
Poor packaging needs to be addressed urgently as people
are not aware of how and where to source good packaging.
A forum needs to be created by NASPAN where members can
get regular updates on such information.
Mrs Mobola Sagoe of Shea Origin and 2nd Vice President of
NASPAN, provided the address of two packaging companies
in Lagos for participants to explore
NASPAN should facilitate packaging logistics among interested
members as a group for better access.
BRAND
AMBASSADOR
There is the need to project the image of Shea from how it is
currently perceived in some quarters as local. In the words of
Mrs Biola “we need to make Shea Funky” to enhance its
appeal and patronage. It was suggested that a brand
9|Page
ambassador who uses Shea products and has a story to tell
should be engaged for this purpose.
CAPACITY BUILDING
NASPAN to do an audit of quality and provide the necessary
trainings to bridge the gaps
QUALITY TESTING LAB
The house was informed by Mr Williams Ezeagu of NEPC that
there is an on-going effort by UNIDO to facilitate the setup and
certification of some laboratories in the country to conduct
quality tests on Shea products and the certification will be
acceptable worldwide. NASPAN should follow up with this and
position their members to benefit from the initiative.
CERTIFICATION
The need to facilitate a common facility centre for product
formulators and processors to reduce the cost of NAFDAC
certification was emphasized. Is there anything NASPAN can
do in this area?
MEMBERSHIP
NASPAN to follow up on participants that have indicated
interest in join the association immediately.
USAID NEXTT PDF
The PDF (Project Development Facility) is a pre-investment
assistance provided to help agro based businesses to expand
and it includes development of Business plans, Feasibility
studies, Environmental Impact Assessment etc
Interested members of NASPAN should apply for it. Better still
NASPAN should facilitate this for some of its members that
qualify.
NIFOR
NIFOR has been able produce hi-brid seedlings for the
domestication of Shea trees. This was quite remarkable.
Participants that are interested in getting the seedlings should
visit the Bida nursery. Contact person is Musa Koloche
08186400669
PAPER PRESENTATIONS
Papers present should be uploaded on both the conference
and NEXTT websites for participants to access
10 | P a g e
Appendix 1: Photo Speak
Wife of the VP delivering her speech
Mrs Mobola Sagoe, CEO Shea Origin
giving her welcome address
Goodwill message by the Exec Director, NEPC
The wife of the VP at the exhibition
11 | P a g e
Shea cosmetics on display
Lovely Shea cosmetics on display.
12 | P a g e
Appendix 2: Speakers Profile
1
Name
Dr. Abimbola
Adegboye
Organisation
National Agency for Food
and Drug Administration and
Control (NAFDAC)
National Agency for Food
and Drug Administration and
Control (NAFDAC)
Standards Organization of
Nigeria (SON)
Designation/Profile
Deputy Director (Lab
Services)
2
Mrs Kadiri Haleemat
3
Mrs. C.V. Egwuonwu
4
Dr. Omorefe
Asemota
Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm
Research (NIFOR)
Executive Director/CEO
5
Mrs. Francesca
Brenda Opoku
(courtesy of
PropCom)
Chief Executive Officer
6
Mr Jack King
Solution Oasis Ltd. Ghana
(A Ghanaian agro
processing company that
manufactures the BEAUTY
SECRETS and KIPENZI ranges
of natural beauty products
from Shea Butter and
Agricultural waste)
Bank of Industry (BOI)
7
8
Mr Afolayan
Gbenga
Mr Afolabi Bello
9
Mr Paul Ajayi
10
Alhaji M.K.
Badamosuyi
Nigeria Export-Import Bank
(NEXIM)
Nigeria Export Promotion
Council (NEPC)
Nigeria Export Promotion
Council (NEPC)
Federal Ministry of Trade &
Investments (FMTI)
11
Mr Williamson
OYSADEP
Appendix 3: Papers presented
(Find attached as PowerPoint slides)
13 | P a g e
Chief Regulatory Officer
Deputy Director,
Standards Development
Regional Manager North
Central
Export Credit Officer
Principal Trade Promotion
Officer
Principal Trade Promotion
Officer
Director, Commodities &
Products Inspectorate
Services
4s Agric consultant,
Appendix 4: Feedback from participants
NAME: Olu Toluhi
COMPANY/BRAND NAME:
SHEASENTALS
LOCATION OD BUSINESS: Abuja
SOURCE OF SHEA: Benue and Niger
Comment: I am very grateful to
USAID|NIGERIA for talking about
Shea because it is one of the most
important means of livelihood for
rural woman in all the remote areas
of Nigeria. Now that everyone is
talking about inclusive growth,
developing this sector is a huge
massive of emancipating thousands
of poor women. I am also very
happy that we are allowed to exhibit
our products free of charge because this does not happen at other conferences
or workshops on Shea where we will be asked to pay N50,000 or N100,000 but here
there are a lot of people that are buying from us and they get to know about the
movement of Shea.
NAME: Keze Kenneth
COMPANY/BRAND NAME: Cocoa
Botanicals Limited/Cocoa Terra
LOCATION OF BUSINESS: Abuja
SOURCE OF SHEA: Niger
Comment: “This Shea conference by
USAID|NIGERIA should be made an
annual event because it will create
more awareness and publicity to help
the sector develop. Let’s use the
platform to create more awareness to
make it more participatory. Sales at
the Shea Conference have been
incredible and the interest people are
showing to the products on sale is
very encouraging.
14 | P a g e
NAME: Bala Saidu and
Abubabukar Al-Mustapha
Mustapha (Partners)
COMPANY/BRAND NAME: SHEA
DYNAMICS RESOURCES LIMITED
LOCATION OF BUSINESS: Bida in
Niger
SOURCE OF SHEA: Niger, Kwara ,
Kebbi, FCT
Comment: “This conference is
one of the best things that can
happen to Shea in this country
because the resource persons,
the coordination of the event,
the exhibition, the interaction
and the output generally can
be crowned to be an excellent and impactful one. With the support of
USAID|NIGERIA, we now have total confidence that Shea industry has a voice
and we are taking away from this conference, the knowledge of premium quality
butter production to rural women. We are also confident that we can inform the
women that Shea is reaching more people via value addition in cosmetics and
food industry hence the need for good standard as the world is really speaking
about Shea butter which is now going higher than cocoa and might soon be
competing with oil. Shea butter has the potential to compete with oil and gas for
Nigeria.”
NAME: Alhaji SA Suleiman
COMPANY/BRAND NAME:
LOCATION OF COMPANY: Abuja
SOURCE OF SHEA: Kebbi state
Comment: “I made useful contacts and got vital information regarding the big
value chain in terms quality standards, the export procedures and requirement
and connection with other people in the sector. I am well informed now and in a
better position to take decisions regarding my business.”
15 | P a g e
NAME: Sam Gwar
COMPANY/BRAND NAME: Oracle
Star Shea Butter.
LOCATION OF COMPANY: Markudi,
Benue State.SOURCE OF SHEA:
Benue and Niger states Comment:
“This Shea Conference is a very
good thing to happen to the Shea
family. We produce a lot of things
and there’s been no place to exhibit
and sales. This forum provided a very
good opportunity for us to show
case Shea butter here. The
conference has also helped us to
make market linkages across the
Nigeria.”
NAME: Amina Danjuma
COMPANY/BRAND NAME:
ESTANDAN Shea Butter
LOCATION OF COMPANY: Zuru,
Kebbi State
SOURCE OF SHEA: villages across
Kebbi state
Comment: “I am very happy that I
came here because all the
information I got at this Shea
Conference will be very useful for
the hundreds of women I work with
in Zuru village. I will be sharing this
information with them to improve
the processing standard of our Shea
butter which will enhance its quality
for the international market.”
NAME: Kayode Abegunde
16 | P a g e
COMPANY/BRAND NAME: Tambourine International Services Limited
LOCATION OF COMPANY: Ilorin and Abuja
SOURCE OF SHEA: Potential investor in Shea value chain
Comment: “This conference is a great one because it has actually opened my
eyes. More of this in the sector is essential to bring stakeholders together because
information is key and it is scarce in this sector. Deliberations like these are very
important and we need it to build a larger network.”
NAME: Ayo Ifebanjo
COMPANY/BRAND NAME: Seedland
Agroallied Limited
LOCATION OF COMPANY: Lagos
SOURCE OF SHEA: Potential investor
Comment: “I came to this Shea
Conference for big development and to
understand the whole value chain and
know where to place my company before
moving into production. The whole
concept is interesting. I learnt that Ghana
has six Shea processing plants while
Nigeria has none, yet we produce a lot
more Shea nuts than the entire West Africa
region. This is serious eye opener for me
and I’m taking it back to my company
that we must explore the Shea value
chain to get the best out of this multibillion industry that is unexploited.
NAME: Yero Ahmed Bello
COMPANY/BRAND NAME: JIGNA
ECO-ranch limited/OKWUME
(name of Shea butter in 18 Nigeria
languages)
LOCATION OF COMPANY: Abuja
SOURCE OF SHEA: Usuma Dam
farm in Abuja where there are
3,073 wildly grown Shea trees.
Planning to cultivate 500 hectares
of Shea tree plantation in Kaduna
Comment: “I crashed into this
conference with the sight of the
event banner outside. I am very
impressed with USAID|NIGERIA
and Shea Origin for the
organization of this event because
17 | P a g e
the agenda is geared at getting results that will improve the processing standard
of Shea butter in Nigeria and also develop the survival of rural women that are
involved in this process.”\
NAME: Jadesola Durotoye
COMPANY/BRAND NAME: President of National Network of Shea Co-operatives
LOCATION OF COMPANY: Lagos State
SOURCE OF SHEA: South West Nigeria
Comment: “I think the content of the conference is right. It can be improved upon.
We need to build more interactive sessions in the next ones and extend it because
two days is not enough.”
NAME: Sholape Epega
COMPANY/BRAND NAME: Pink
Initiative/Shea Effect
LOCATION OF COMPANY: Lagos and
Abuja
SOURCE OF SHEA: Borno, Yobe and
Adamawa
Comment: “This conference has
opened a vast array of opportunities
and it has opened up the market. All
the rural women who were here are
all inspired and know they need to
expand and improve their processing
standards and also exploit the export
market. Let’s also have this
conference cum exhibition in Lagos, where the market is.”
Appendix 5: Attendance Sheets
(Find attached as Excel Sheet)
18 | P a g e