With the rising global demand for natural skincare and organic beauty products, investing in the production and sale of Shea butter has become a profitable opportunity. This once-overlooked commodity is now attracting smart investors eager to cash in on its expanding market, both locally and internationally. From cosmetics to pharmaceuticals, Shea butter is fast becoming a golden ticket for those looking to diversify their income streams.
Shea butter, widely known for its use as a beauty cream, also serves as a powerful healing balm—used in treating fractured joints, soothing scars, and relieving skin conditions. This dual function makes it a highly marketable product with strong income potential for investors.
Locally, it is called Ori in Yoruba, Okwuma in Igbo, and Kadanya or Dan Ka’raye in Hausa. While urban markets prize it for cosmetic use, rural communities especially value its medicinal benefits, offering consistent demand and excellent patronage for producers and sellers alike.
Likewise, since it is good for skin and hair protection, especially, for women, a prospective investor can get more patronage in urban areas as well as rural areas.
Shea butter is a highly prized product among global cosmetic corporations due to its many uses, and as demand soars, so has its potential for exports.
Since Shea Butter is easily found in many States of the country, investors can leverage on this availability in Kwara, Oyo, Niger, Ogun, Kogi, Benue and Edo States.
Business Capital/Profit
In a chat with LEADERSHIP on importance of Shea Butter, a teacher working under the Oyo State government, Dr Christopher Olatunji said: “ It is advisable to start the business in small quantity with N50,000 capital. It is unfriendly with hot weather, so, care must be taken not to run at a loss. Reduce stock in hot weather and keep in cool temperature all the time.
During cold weather, with just N150, 000 investment, one can realise N500, 000 or more from it. This is because Shea Butter is very medicinal, hence, an investor can focus his or her supply to hospitals and pharmaceutical outfits.”
Similarly, a trader in natural assorted materials in Tejuosho Market, Yaba, Lagos, Mrs Kalu Idika, described Shea Butter as wonderful medicine because of its effects when robbed on affected parts of the body.
Idika, who sells Shea Butter plus other wares under the Tejusho Bridge said, “most people don’t know the efficiency of this Shea Butter until they have reason to give it a trial, especially , during dislocation of joints or injuries or scars from accidents. Shea Butter is effective to wipe away such scars and with only N100 per slice, you can get a perfect cleansing of the body.”
