First Lady Oluremi Tinubu says the recent ban on the exportation of raw shea butter is a timely intervention that will empower local processors and create new opportunities in the agricultural value chain.

Mrs Tinubu applauded the federal government’s directive at the closing of a three-day National Workshop on Agro-Value-Chain Capacity Building for Women Farmers on Saturday in Abuja.

Represented by Nana Shettima, the wife of the vice president, she said the ban is a major step towards strengthening Nigeria’s agro-processing sector, particularly for women who dominate the industry.

According to her, women account for over 95 per cent of small-scale shea butter processors across Nigeria.

She added that the ban would reduce exploitation of raw products while stimulating 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.

The workshop, jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), focused on equipping women farmers with modern skills, knowledge, and access to global markets.

Participants were urged to leverage emerging opportunities in the agro-value chain to transform their livelihoods and contribute to economic growth.

Delivering her address and closing remarks, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, described the gathering as a turning point for Nigerian women in agriculture.

She reminded stakeholders that the sNigeria’s Nigeria’s agriculture is inseparable from the story of its women.

The minister highlighted the paradox of Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, where women constitute nearly 70 per cent of the labour force but remain under-represented in land ownership, credit access, mechanisation, and leadership roles.

She stressed that granting women equal access to resources could raise yields by 20 to 30 per cent, enough to secure food for millions more Nigerians.

Mrs Suleiman-Ibrahim also unveiled the Women Agro Value Expansion (WAVE) Programme, which targets 10 million women across Nigeria.

She said the initiative would equip women with climate-smart technologies, affordable financing, agri-business skills, and access to markets.

Some participants who spoke to journalists commended the federal government for the initiative.

A participant, Afiniki Bubmba, described the training as life-changing and encouraged other women to embrace agriculture and shed the stereotype of farming as “dirty work.”

Another participant, Aisha Burka, said she was determined to mobilise between 100 and 200 women to benefit from her new knowledge.

(NAN)