Business
RMRDC Leads National Push to Unlock Nigeria’s Aloe Vera Industry for Growth and Export Expansion
Joel Ajayi
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), in collaboration with Dipton Nigeria Ltd., convened a National Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting on Aloe Vera Value Chain Development, at the RMRDC Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
In statement by the Director Agriculture and Agro Allied Department Dr. Seb Ebierekwerevealed that, the high-level engagement was designed to foster strategic collaboration among key stakeholders to unlock the vast economic and industrial potential of Aloe vera in Nigeria.
Recognized globally as a “wonder plant” for its extensive application in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and allied industries, Aloe vera presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria to advance its industrialization, import substitution, and economic diversification agenda.
The meeting brought together 48 participants, including representatives from Federal and State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC and SON, research institutes, academia, farmers’ associations, financial institutions, development partners, and the private sector.
Delivering the keynote address titled “Developing the Aloe Vera Value Chain: A Strategic Pathway to Nigeria’s Industrialisation and Economic Diversification”, the Director-General/CEO of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, stressed that the engagement marked a practical and demand-driven step toward organizing Aloe vera cultivation into a viable national value chain.
He noted that the global Aloe vera market, estimated between USD 2–5 billion, continues to grow, driven by demand across multiple industries. Despite Nigeria’s natural advantage, the country lags behind due to lack of data, certified seedlings, standardized processing systems, and weak institutional coordination.
Prof. Ike-Muonso highlighted the key challenges facing the Aloe vera sector in Nigeria, including inadequate technology, poor quality control, limited financing, and the absence of harmonized regulatory standards.
He outlined RMRDC’s strategic approach, which includes establishing a National Aloe Vera Working Group (NAWG), conducting baseline surveys, developing standards in collaboration with NAFDAC and SON, supporting certified nurseries, and linking SMEs with investors and markets.
He called for collaborative efforts among government agencies, investors, researchers, and regulators to develop a comprehensive Aloe Vera Value Chain Roadmap. He concluded by affirming that Aloe vera could become a model for indigenous raw materials development, creating jobs, reducing imports, boosting exports, and driving economic growth.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director, Agriculture and Agro-Allied Raw Materials Department, Dr. Sab Ebiriekwe emphasized the strategic importance of the event in repositioning Nigeria’s agro-allied raw materials sector for industrialization, job creation, and sustainable development.
He highlighted Aloe vera’s immense global value and Nigeria’s underutilization of the crop despite its favourable climate and natural endowments.
He described the engagement as a crucial national dialogue to unite stakeholders around identifying gaps and opportunities, developing a roadmap for the Aloe vera value chain, and building a framework for sustainable collaboration and investment. Dr. Ebiriekwe also commended Dipton Nigeria Ltd., led by Mr. Ike Willie-Nwobu, for its role as the National Secretariat Partner in championing the initiative.
The Managing Director of Dipton Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Willie-Nwobu, expressed appreciation to the Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, for his visionary leadership in advancing raw materials development in Nigeria.
He noted the absence of organized Aloe vera plantations, formal data, and effective information systems, and emphasized the need for structured development of the sector.
According to him, the engagement served as a platform to raise national awareness, mobilize stakeholders, and energize the Aloe vera ecosystem in Nigeria.
He affirmed Dipton’s commitment to inclusive sector development by working with universities, medical centers, farmers, retirees’ groups, and security institutions.
He also announced a partnership with Loharu Agro Farm of India to provide technical mentorship and guide local content development within the Aloe vera value chain.
Two technical papers were presented during the meeting: Aloe Vera as an Industrial Plant – Experience from the Loharu Agro Farm, India and Development of Aloe Vera as Industrial Raw Material for Economic Diversification and Sustainable Growth in Nigeria. These papers provided global insights and recommendations to inform Nigeria’s Aloe vera value chain strategy.
The meeting concluded with the drafting and adoption of a communiqué. Participants observed that Nigeria possesses favourable agro-ecological conditions for Aloe vera cultivation but lacks baseline data on hectares cultivated, farmer clusters, and processing capacity. It was noted that the sector remains largely informal, with limited extension services, quality control, and standardization.
Participants emphasized the growing global demand for Aloe vera-based products and acknowledged Nigeria’s potential to become a key player in the market if competitiveness gaps are addressed.
The engagement ended with a shared commitment to establishing a multi-stakeholder task force to drive implementation of the Aloe vera development roadmap under RMRDC’s Raw Materials Development and Commercialization Framework.
Business
FG, Investonaire Academy Unveil National Programme to Equip 100,000 Youths with Financial Skills, Digital Wealth Tools
By Joel Ajayi
The Federal Government, in collaboration with Investonaire Academy, has unveiled a nationwide financial literacy and wealth-building programme targeting more than 100,000 young Nigerians. The initiative is designed to equip participants with practical skills in budgeting, saving, investing, asset building, and long-term financial planning, positioning them for sustainable prosperity in a rapidly evolving economy.
Launched on Tuesday in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, described financial literacy as a necessary survival tool for young people confronting today’s economic realities.
He noted that the initiative represents the foundation of a broader vision expected to extend beyond Nigeria to other African nations and global markets.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting over 4,000 corps members annually, the Minister said the programme will provide platforms, resources, and skills needed for both job creation and employability.
“The young people who understand money — how to save, invest, build assets, and manage risk — are the ones who will lead Nigeria into prosperity,” he said.
A major highlight of the launch was the expansion of the Nigeria Youth Academy, a digital platform offering mentorship, training, and startup support. According to the Minister, more than 200 startups will receive empowerment through the Academy’s e-app platform before the end of the year.
He stressed the need for deeper collaboration with private organisations, innovators, and youth-focused groups, noting that government alone cannot drive youth development. He further encouraged young Nigerians to embrace skills acquisition, innovation, and digital enterprise, saying these remain critical to reducing the desire for migration and increasing self-reliance.
Outlining the Ministry’s long-term commitments, Olawande emphasized three priorities: supporting youth innovation, equipping them with growth tools, and safeguarding millions of Nigerian youths under the Ministry’s mandate.
Speaking at the launch, Sebastien Sicre, Chief Operating Officer of Investonaire Academy, said the programme was crafted to revolutionize the way Nigerian youths learn and apply financial knowledge. He highlighted the Academy’s gamified Learning Management System (LMS), which offers interactive learning tools, community forums, and real-time mentorship to make financial education engaging and accessible.
Complementing the digital platform is a new 200-square-metre physical training centre in Abuja, opposite the NNPC Towers, where in-person workshops and mentorship sessions will take place.
The curriculum covers key global asset classes — including equities, commodities, forex, and indices — ensuring participants gain a broad understanding of financial markets.
Sicre added that with Federal Government backing, the programme seeks to unlock new opportunities, strengthen youth participation in the digital economy, and reward outstanding participants through a $1 million funding pool to support new and existing ventures.
International Programme Director of Investonaire Academy, Dr. Enefola Odiba, explained that the initiative aims to bridge long-standing gaps in financial education among Nigerian youths. While schools teach many subjects, he said, essential financial skills are often missing.
“Many people can earn money — earning money can be easy. The real challenge is retaining, managing, and growing that money,” he noted.
Referencing the Central Bank of Nigeria’s definition of financial literacy, Odiba stated that implementation remains a major national challenge. He said the initiative brings together government agencies, youth groups, academic institutions, and private-sector partners to translate strategy into measurable impact.
The programme’s curriculum covers budgeting, saving, investing, and financial planning — areas where many young people struggle. By offering practical training, real-world insights, and guided mentorship, the initiative aims to build a generation of financially empowered youth capable of driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic growth.
With this partnership, the Federal Government and Investonaire Academy share a common goal: to empower young Nigerians with the financial intelligence and digital tools needed to build wealth, grow businesses, and transform the nation’s economic future.
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