The economic development of West Africa is critical to America and the world, United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Terrence McCulley has said. McCulley spoke at the international Shea Conference organized by Global Shea Alliance (GSA) recently in Abuja Nigeria. The ambassador, who noted the Shea exports from West Africa had grown by over 1,000 percent over last 10 years, said the use of Shea in the food and cosmetics industries has continued to soar. He said we know that economic opportunity is linked to peace and stability. Without it, people cannot build strong communities and government cannot build strong institution. We are here today because we recognize that Shea represent one of the golden opportunities to achieve economic development in the poorest areas of West Africa “The economic impact of the growth of Shea industry would be transformational to the rural communities where millions of women pick Shea nuts. These are communities where poverty is entrenched”. Formerly military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida said the economic, political and social future of West Africa sub-region is contingent on women ability to participate meaningful at every level of human endeavour considering their population. Babaginda stated that the sub-region with the almost 300 million people with 50 percent of the number represent girls and women. The former President who was represented by former Military Governor of Niger State, Colonel Habibu Shuaibu (rtd), considered sustainability of efforts to increase value chain of Shea production as critical for the future of Nigeria and sub-region because of high participation of rural women. Niger State Governor Babaginda Aliyu, who declared the conference open, stressed the need to protect and promote Shea to ensure it remains a robust part of economic growth and development. Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijani, who spoke on the impact of smuggling on Shea industry, underscored the need to embrace Shea plantation strategy because of its potentials for job creation.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 10:58:12 +0000
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