NEPC, AEA Partner to Export Shear Butter to Europe

From Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) will boast Shear Butter production in the country and export the commodity to the European Union as a foreign exchange earner.

Shear butter is rich in natural vitamins and fatty acids that nourish and moisturise the skin. Besides, the regular use, this natural cream can treat many skin problems, including blemishes, wrinkles, itching, sunburns, small skin wounds, eczema, skin allergies, insect bites, frost bite, and other skin conditions.

AEA Managing Director, Arabi Muhammed Tukur, disclosed at the weekend that the Agency was in the process of scaling up the shear butter capacity production in two communities of Rimba and Nuku in the Abaji Area Council of FCT.

Tukur said the mutual collaboration with NEPC and Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) will increase the quality of shear butter through better production processes and capacity building.

He stressed the European Union has agreed to visit Nigeria to upscale the equipment and cranes that are producing the product. Similarly, the process will entail the improvement of the shear nut storage facility.

According to him, if procedures were right, Nigeria would start exporting the commodity in six months to a company in the UK that has indicated interest in buying the product in commercial quantity.

“Shear Butter is a hot cake and is our next oil. A company in the UK wants to start importing the product but we are the one holding them back because we yet to complete the process of up-scaling our facilities. We are at B+ and we want to attain Grade A through up-scaling to be ready for the export market,” Tukur said.

He said the scheme under the One Village One Product programme, has impacted on 106 women through training in addition to the sales on platforms such as Kaymus, Olx and market linkage.

Tukur also disclosed that the FCT Administration has approved the establishment of 10 cottage centre in the rural communities per quarter this year, while the agency has disbursed N1.98 billion to 5,317 micro, small and medium enterprises, cooperative society and people living with disabilities.

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