Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s second-largest exporter of sesame and the fourth-largest globally, with N700 billion worth of products exported in 2024, according to the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the STDF 845 project for Sesame and Cowpea, Ayeni highlighted the importance of enhancing export quality and reducing rejection rates in the global market.
“The project is a three-year co-funded initiative between the International Trade Centre and NEPC to improve the quality of Nigeria’s sesame and cowpea exports, ensuring compliance with pesticide residue levels and minimizing rejection in the international market,” she stated.
Ayeni revealed that the global sesame market is valued at $7.67 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.3% by 2030.
She also noted that in 2023 alone, Nigeria exported sesame seeds worth $463.827 million, underscoring the commodity’s significant contribution to the non-oil export sector. The main export destinations include Europe, North America, the Far East, and the Middle East.
Emphasizing the importance of the STDF 845 project, Ayeni stressed the need for a baseline study to assess current sanitary and phytosanitary standards, regulatory practices, and export procedures for sesame and cowpea.
Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, reaffirmed Nigeria’s position as the fourth-largest producer of sesame globally.
She noted that Japan alone accounts for 40% of Nigeria’s sesame exports, but recent setbacks due to sanitary concerns have led to increased scrutiny.
To address this, she stated, “The ministry will streamline regulatory processes and sensitize MSMEs to ensure their products meet sanitary standards, preventing export rejections.”
Furthermore, the initiative is expected to enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global sesame market and strengthen its position as a major non-oil export player.
