Stakeholders in Kwara State have called for stronger policy frameworks, increased investment and sustained collaboration among government, communities and development partners to secure the future of the state's growing shea economy.

The call was made on Tuesday in Ilorin during a Policy Dialogue and Learning Workshop on the Sustainable Management of Shea Agroforestry Parklands in Kwara State, organised by the Haashim Initiative for Community Advancement under a project funded by the United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme.

Speaking at the event, the Project Lead, Prof. Tajudeen Amusa, said the initiative was conceived in response to the declining population of shea trees and the increasing threats posed by unsustainable human activities across rural communities.

According to him, the project was implemented in Fufu, Apa-Ola, Ilota and Igbo-Owu communities with the objective of promoting conservation while improving livelihoods for residents who depend on the shea value chain.

He said, "Through the generous support of the UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP), and the active collaboration of local communities, government agencies, traditional institutions, researchers, and other stakeholders, we have successfully implemented a series of activities aimed at addressing challenges facing the shea tree in selected communities.

"Our overarching goal has been to promote the sustainable management and conservation of shea resources while enhancing livelihood and income-generating opportunities for local communities."

Amusa explained that the project commenced with stakeholder mobilisation and sensitisation programmes before baseline assessments were conducted to determine the state of shea resources in the beneficiary communities.

"At the project's inception workshop in September 2025, we mobilised and sensitised key stakeholders on the project objectives and expected outcomes. Following this, we conducted a baseline assessment of shea tree resources within the project communities.

"The survey examined the spatial distribution of shea trees, estimated tree ages, growth characteristics and other ecological indicators. We also carried out socioeconomic surveys among shea processors and households to better understand the opportunities and challenges within the sector."

The professor added that the project had delivered measurable outcomes in community mobilisation, nursery development, women empowerment and environmental restoration.

"Enhanced awareness among farmers and community members on sustainable shea parkland management reached over 500 households, individuals and stakeholders.

"Through the project, over 25 individuals were trained, while 12 community nursery operators were certified in nursery establishment and management. In addition, 52 community members received training in shea tree propagation and transplanting techniques.

"These interventions have significantly strengthened local capacity in nursery establishment, grafting, propagation and transplanting."

Amusa further revealed that four women-led cooperatives were established under the initiative. "The project successfully facilitated the formation of four women-led cooperative groups, thereby enhancing social organisation, collective action and regular community engagement through weekly meetings across the four communities.

"Four community nurseries were established, and over 4,200 shea seedlings were successfully transplanted into the community woodlots.

"Modern shea processing equipment were fabricated and donated to shea processors to improve productivity and efficiency," the Project Lead further stated.

He stressed that the project had improved access to water in participating communities. "More than 100 shea processors and over 500 households now benefit from reliable access to clean water through the installation of solar-powered water pumping systems."

Amusa maintained that the workshop was designed to generate practical recommendations that would strengthen the shea value chain and guide future interventions.

"This workshop seeks to facilitate meaningful policy dialogue on the development of a robust and sustainable shea sector in Kwara State.

"We firmly believe that effective conservation and value-chain development require strong institutional support, enabling policy frameworks, strategic investments and active stakeholder collaboration."

Representing the Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Buge, the Director of Forestry Services in the ministry, AbdulRahman Olumo, described the initiative as a model partnership capable of driving sustainable development.

"This programme is what I will call a partnership that works. There are a lot of things that government alone cannot do, but when we have organisations like this that partner with the community and the government to make things work within the community, we move forward," Olumo said.

"Because a drop of water makes an ocean, we are moving forward from zero to where we are now." Olumo pointed out that the project was pioneering a new approach to shea conservation through assisted regeneration.

"One thing we should realise about what forest entails is that these are renewable natural resources. Then we need to make efforts. There's what we call assisted regeneration, and that's what is happening here.

"This is the first of its kind when it comes to shea. This is the first time that we are now actively assisting natural regeneration."

He attributed the decline in natural regeneration partly to human and environmental pressures.

"It is not actually working because of activities of herdsmen who are trampling upon the natural resources. This time around, the community goes out there to pick the seeds, propagate them within their farmlands, look after them and in turn this adds fertility to the soil.

"This is a way to encourage improvement in our agroforestry sector," Olumo noted. Highlighting the project's achievements, the commissioner's representative said the capacity built within the communities would have long-term economic benefits.

"We have 4,000 seedlings now, and the nurseries are there on ground. The capacity is already developed.

"We appreciate this partnership and encourage the initiator to extend it to other communities. They should not stop at shea butter alone. We also have locust beans.

"A lot of the things the communities are enjoying today are from natural growth, and these things are declining. We have the capacity, technology and techniques to establish these on our own.

"By doing so, we are securing our future. We are sustaining the business. If the trees are growing, they will keep producing and the business will keep growing. More people will be empowered instead of going out to look for jobs," he insisted.

Speaking on how the initiative could move beyond policy discussions into practical economic gains, Olumo urged community groups and entrepreneurs to take advantage of existing government support programmes.

"There are some things that the Kwara State Government has put in place. For example, if you go to the Ministry of Business and Innovation, they help SMEs," he noted.

He noted further, "Communities or small business owners can approach them. There is also digital innovation that could link you up to people that can invest in the business you are doing."

Also speaking, Paul Ayomide, representing the National Coordinator of the UNDP Small Grants Programme in Nigeria, commended the project's community-driven approach.

He praised HICA for promoting local ownership and ensuring that interventions were backed by evidence generated from field assessments and stakeholder engagement.

Ayomide said the project provided a model for sustainable environmental and livelihood interventions because it placed communities at the centre of decision-making and implementation.

Our correspondent reports that the workshop also featured technical presentations, documentary screenings and training sessions on shea butter production, with participants exploring strategies to strengthen conservation efforts, improve market access, expand livelihood opportunities and enhance financing for the shea sector in Kwara State.