Wetin be di health benefits of di shea nuts wey Nigeria ban from exports

President Bola Tinubu approve di ban of shea nuts exportation to di international market outside Nigeria.

Di president tok say Nigeria na di producer of nearly 40% of di world shea nuts but only capture 1% of di global market.

"Nigeria shea na our green wealth. We produce nearly 40% of di world supply, yet capture less dan 1% of di $6.5bn global market. Dat imbalance go end now," di statement tok.

"I don approve six-month suspension of raw shea exports, on di recommendation of di Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit, to secure supply for local processors, create jobs, and protect value chain wia 95% of pickers na women."

On Tuesday, Kashim Shettima, vice-president of Nigeria, during di multi-stakeholder meeting for di Presidential Villa, Abuja, tok say women na 90% of di pickers and protection of di shea industry na protection of livelihoods, dignity and opportunities for women.

"Dis na pro-value addition policy design to secure raw materials for our processing factories and enabling industries to run at full capacity, e go boost rural income and jobs for our pipo," Shettima tok.

"E go transform Nigeria from exporter of raw shea nut to global supplier of refined shea butter, oil and odas derivatives."

Di importance of shea nuts and how e don empower Nigeria women

Shea nuts na one of di fruits wey dey grow mainly for Africa and e get plenti benefits for di indigenous pipo as dem dey use am cook, baff, as ointment, as hair care and skin care treatment, among odas.

Nigeria get high number of shea trees, wey spread across Niger, Kwara, Kebbi, Nasarawa and Kogi States.

To get di shea butter from di shea nuts, local producers wey be mostly women dey harvest di fruit from di shea tree, crush, roast and boil am to extract di oil to dem produce di creamy looking shea butter.

For many generations, shea nuts na means of livelihood for local producers and dem dey commit hours of labour to produce di final product.

In 2006, European Union (EU) approve use of shea butter for chocolate production as alternative to cocoa-butter becos shea butter dey "improve chocolate stability, texture, and melting characteristics. E dey more cost-effective dan cocoa butter."

Dis and di high demand in di cosmetic industry don lead to high demand of shea nuts making Nigeria lose about 39% of di shea nuts to international market.

Despite dis shea nuts na means of livelihood for many women and households, e dey sell for local market at di rate of 5,000 naira ($3.26) per kg for unbranded and 25,000 naira ($16.29) for branded brands online, based on BBC pidgin check.

Federal goment dey plan for di shea industry to generate more revenue of about $300 million annually to help dis women wey dey di final chain and boost di Nigeria economy.

"Di ban wey go take place immediate effect, dey subjected to review upon expiration and specifically aim at boosting Nigeria shea value chain to generate around $300 million annually in di short term," Shettima tok.

Health benefits of shea butter

Sabi pesin, Dr Jeannette Aryee-Boi chook mouth shea butter get plenti beta benefit as e contain Vitamin A wey good for di skin and hair.

E tok say e contain Vitamin E, anti-oxidant wey help heal different skin diseases including stretch mark.

E get anti-aging properties but she tok say no fit work alone, you go need oda products so e go work very well.

"We recommend say afta you don baff just use towel to dry di skin dry just tap so you go fit use di shea butter to lock di moisture into di skin," she tok.