₦airaland Forum

ICCIMA Partners RMRDC To Train 25 Participants On Shea Butter Production In Agbaku Eji, Moro LGA

As part of its commitment to promoting entrepreneurship, value addition, and employment creation in Ibololand, the Ibolo Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), in collaboration with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), organised a One-Day Practical Skill Acquisition Workshop on Shea Butter Production on Saturday, 4th July, 2026.

The practical training was held at the RMRDC Demonstration Centre, Agbaku Eji, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, with twenty-five (25) participants drawn from different communities and entrepreneurs from other states in attendance.

The President of ICCIMA, Rev. Paul O. Olagunju, welcomed participants to the workshop and encouraged them to take the training serious with a determination to put to key into the shea butter value chain. Adding that it is an opportunity to add value to themselves through positive empowerment. He reiterated that the training is a continuation of ICCIMA’s Roadmap for Poverty Eradication and Wealth Creation in Ibolo land. Rev. Olagunju explained that ICCIMA has continued to engage government agencies, development partners, and private sector organisations to attract programmes and investments that will benefit local entrepreneurs, farmers, artisans, and small business owners. He noted that the partnership with RMRDC is one of the Chamber's efforts to empower residents with practical skills capable of generating sustainable income.

The Kwara State Coordinator of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Mrs. Lydia Adewumi, introduced participants to the economic importance of the shea tree and its seeds, highlighting the enormous opportunities available in the shea butter value chain for both local and export markets. She also introduced the participants to the various processing machines available at the Demonstration Centre and explained their functions in modern shea butter production.

The training featured practical demonstrations covering every stage of the production process. Participants were taken through the crushing of dried shea seeds using the crusher, followed by drying for several hours before grinding. The processed material was then allowed to cool before milling into a fine paste. The paste was subsequently kneaded thoroughly and transferred into a cooking pot, where the shea butter was extracted through controlled heating and processing until the finished product was obtained.

Throughout the practical session, participants had the opportunity to operate the processing equipment under the supervision of RMRDC technical officers, giving them hands-on experience in the production of high-quality shea butter.

The workshop demonstrated the shared commitment of ICCIMA and RMRDC to promoting local raw material development, entrepreneurship, women and youth empowerment, and sustainable economic development in Kwara State. The collaboration is expected to contribute significantly to job creation, value addition, and the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises within Ibolo land.