The Directorate of the West African Center for Shea Innovation and Research (WACSIR) received a team from Nuts for Growth, a large-scale oilseed processing company, at the University’s Central Administration Block to discuss a partnership between the university and the Shea company. Nuts for Growth was founded by madam Dora Torwiseh, in Tamale in the Northern Region.

The Principal of the UDS Nyankpala Campus, Professor George Nyarko received the team on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, who was out of the country on an official assignment together with the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar.

Prof. Nyarko explained that the university has the largest agricultural faculty in the country, adding that UDS was established with agriculture as its first academic program. Prof. Nyarko intimated that UDS has throughout the over 30 years of its establishment, always placed priority on the development of the agricultural sector through its research works and programs as a result of which Centers like the West Africa Center for Shea Innovation and Research (WACSIR), among others, were birthed.

Prof. Nyarko added that UDS was the first University in Ghana to invest in, and start an institute on shea research and has so far, had several partnerships and collaborations with other Shea producing countries, both in the Western and Eastern parts of Africa. He said as a socially responsible university, that was established in the northern part pf Ghana, where shea trees are in abundance, UDS has taken the right steps to ensure that the shea industry provides sustainable jobs and incomes for the people, through cutting edge research that will ensure that all those along the value chain benefit from it.

The CEO and Founder of Nut for Growth, Madam Dora Torwiseh, stated that the shea nut is a part of our generational heritage and emphasized the need for the local people to own it. Having spent many decades working within the shea trade industry, Madam Dora Torwiseh is fully aware of the challenges and prospects. She indicated that its potentials far outweigh the challenges. She said the shea industry needs to be given the same amount of attention that is given to the cocoa sector since shea has the potential of contributing as much to the economy as cocoa.

Madam Dora Torwiseh added that her company is working towards improving the shea industry through controlling the hazards involved in the picking of nuts and the production of shea butter, producing warehouses to enable storage for a prolonged duration, investing in laboratories to test and analyse quality and safety standards in order to meet consumer parameters and ensure competitiveness, as well as provide the needed support for shea gatherers and their families.

Madam Dora, intimated that the partnership between UDS and Nut for Growth will ensure that the dynamics of shea production and its potentials will be brought to the doorsteps of not just students of UDS but the youth in general.

She expressed optimism that with the establishment of the UDS West African Center for Shea Innovation and Research (WACSIR), the academia will now be able to contribute significantly, through research and innovations, to the growth, success and sustainability of the shea industry, which has now morphed from being used only as pomade, to other uses such as the production of pharmaceutical, nutrition products among others.

The Director for the West African Center for Shea Innovation and Research (WACSIR), Professor Abukari Alhassan expressed his appreciation to the Nuts for Growth team for reaching out to the University to partner in ensuring the success of shea growth in the country. He said the research center has the ability to provide the company with the needed laboratory experts with regards to shea analysis in order to meet the market prospects, as well as reduce production costs in order for local producers to earn more value for their work. Prof. Alhassan disclosed that the aim of WACSIR is not to only conduct research but also to support local women and shea gatherers with the needed resources and knowledge to understand the need to protect the shea trees.

The Vice Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Abubakar Abdul-Halim, said WACSIR is working towards standardizing the production process and quality of shea, and training individual shea nut processors. He also mentioned the need to acquire parklands for shea trees, build nurseries, as well as reduce the gestation period of shea trees and increasing planting of shea trees in and around the savannah ecological zone of the country.

Also present at the meeting, was the Deputy Registrar of the School of Medicine, Mr. Edward Broni Boahene, who represented the Registrar, Mr. Nuruden Issah Abubakar.

Story by:
Salma Abdul Rashid (University Relations)