The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has described the recent ban on the exportation of raw shea butter as a timely intervention that will empower local processors and unlock new opportunities in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
The first lady gave the commendation at the closing of a three-day National Workshop on Agro-Value-Chain Capacity Building for Women Farmers, held on Saturday in Abuja.
Represented by Hajiya Nana Shettima, Wife of the Vice President, the First Lady said the directive marked a significant milestone for women in the agro-processing sector.
According to her, women account for over 95 per cent of small-scale shea butter processors across the country.
She noted that the new policy would not only reduce the exploitation of raw products but also promote domestic value addition.
“This decision underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to boosting local agro-processing capacity.
“By retaining production within our borders, we are empowering women to scale their businesses, improve household incomes, and contribute to national food security,” she said.
Delivering her remarks at the event, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, said the workshop represented a turning point for Nigerian women in agriculture.
She emphasised that women remain the backbone of the sector, even though they are often excluded from critical resources.
“Over the past days, we have sharpened knowledge, built capacity, and deepened partnerships.
“But more importantly, we have reaffirmed an undeniable truth: Nigeria’s agricultural transformation will rise or fall on the shoulders of women,” she said.
The minister pointed out the paradox of Nigeria’s agriculture, where women form nearly 70 per cent of the workforce but remain under-represented in land ownership, credit access, mechanisation, and leadership roles.
She stressed that giving women equal access to resources could increase yields by 20–30 per cent, enough to feed millions more Nigerians.
Unveiling the Women Agro Value Expansion (WAVE) Programme, Suleiman-Ibrahim said the initiative aims to reach 10 million women nationwide.
“With the right support, our women will not only feed the nation, they will feed Africa,” she declared.
She added that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, three strong commitments had been made: dismantling systemic barriers that limit women’s potential, moving women from subsistence to prosperity, and institutionalising gender equity in agricultural policies and programmes.
Some participants at the workshop praised the initiative, describing it as life-changing.
Afiniki Bubmba, who represented the Country Women Association Network (KANET), said:
“The practical sessions, especially on greenhouse construction and crop sequencing, have sparked my interest to begin a mini-greenhouse project at home.”
She encouraged other women to embrace agriculture and shed the stereotype of farming as “dirty work.”
Another participant, Aisha Burka, also from KANET, commended the training, describing the knowledge gained as invaluable.
“Agriculture is not only a tool for food production but also a platform for leadership, wealth creation, and national transformation,” she said.
Burka added that she was determined to mobilise between 100 and 200 women to benefit from the knowledge she had acquired.
She urged them to start small even within their backyards because farming was both economically rewarding and essential for food security.
