WASIL, Global Shea Alliance to Develop Shea Sector

Omolabake Fasogbon

As part of efforts to boost Shea Butter poduction, West Africa Soy Industries Limited (WASIL) has joined the Global Shea Alliance (GSA) to increase activities in the sector.

The firms noted that the partnership would help Nigeria move up from its current status as the fourth exporter of shea butter in Africa, despite being the largest producing country.

WASIL, a subsidiary of Tropical General Investment (TGI) Group also announced its registration as a sustainable partner, in line with its commitment to local value addition and sustainable development of the sector.

Speaking on the deal, President of GSA, Simballa Sylla said, “We are very pleased to see industry leaders take action and invest in sustainability. This partnership will not only contribute to the development of the Nigeria shea butter sector but also to the achievement of the GSA’s 2020 -25 strategic objectives – to expand local value addition by 50% and empower over 500,000 women and improve community resilience. We truly look forward to an impactful partnership with TGI”.

Head of Sustainability at TGI, Osenaga Umobuarie remarked, “We are elated to join the GSA and we stand by our goal of promoting the sustainability of the shea sector through the empowerment of women collectors, parkland conservation and seedling planting.

“This project encompasses the sensitive areas that need attention and we are very pleased to work with GSA to impact positively the Shea industry and its beneficiaries”.

Over the next two years, TGI Group through WASIL, in partnership with the GSA, plans to support 10,000 women shea collectors and processors in the Niger, Kebbi and Kwara states.

It noted that the public-private partnership would enhance business skills of women, provide access to storage facilities, and connect them directly to markets while also building their capacity to effectively manage shea parklands.

“These efforts are part of the USAID funded sustainable shea initiative which aims to improve women’s market access and profitability”, Umobuarie said.