Lagos: Mr. Adeyemi Aseperi-Shonibare, an integrated marketing consultant, has highlighted Nigeria’s National Halal Economic Strategy as a strategic initiative aimed at sustainable growth and enhancing global competitiveness.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Aseperi-Shonibare, the Chief Executive Officer of PRIMAA Productions, emphasized the significance of this strategy during an interview, underlining its potential to diversify Nigeria’s economy and create new investment opportunities across various sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, finance, and tourism.
In a significant development, the Federal Government has taken steps to position Nigeria as a leading player in the global halal market, valued at $7.7 trillion, by signing a cooperation agreement in February with Saudi Arabia’s Halal Products Development Company. The halal economy, which operates based on Islamic principles, promotes the production and trade of goods and services in compliance with Shariah law.
Aseperi-Shonibare pointed out that the halal economy has evolved beyond its religious origins into a multitrillion-dollar global industry encompassing diverse sectors such as food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fashion, logistics, and hospitality. He noted the increasing acceptance of halal-certified products in advanced economies such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia, where they are seen as symbols of quality assurance.
The consultant emphasized that Nigeria, with its substantial population and agricultural resources, should not remain a passive observer in the global halal market. He praised the Federal Government’s unveiling of the Nigeria National Halal Economic Strategy as a crucial step toward revitalizing the economy. Although the official launch has been postponed, Aseperi-Shonibare sees this delay as an opportunity to strengthen the strategy’s framework, ensuring transparency, unity, and collaboration among public and private stakeholders.
Highlighting the broader appeal of the halal economy, Aseperi-Shonibare explained that it is not about religion but about ethical, clean, and traceable production systems. He noted that adopting halal standards would enhance Nigeria’s industrial reputation and facilitate access to export markets. Halal certification, he argued, is as neutral as organic or vegetarian labeling, focusing solely on quality and trust.
The consultant stressed that the strategy could generate substantial employment opportunities across sectors such as farming, processing, packaging, certification, logistics, and hospitality. He suggested that Nigeria could learn from countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia, which have successfully integrated halal principles into their national economic plans.
Aseperi-Shonibare identified five key pillars of successful halal industries: credible certification, compliant infrastructure, export development, tourism, and halal finance. Developing these pillars in Nigeria, he believes, would attract investors, boost exports, and enhance product credibility. He highlighted that Nigeria’s agricultural exports, such as beef, poultry, cocoa, shea products, spices, and grains, could meet international demand with proper certification, enabling penetration into markets in GCC countries, North Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
He dismissed concerns that halal development might threaten Nigeria’s secular identity or promote religious bias, asserting that halal certification is about maintaining high standards, not faith. He encouraged Nigerians to embrace the economic opportunities presented by the halal sector, arguing that transparent execution would enhance industrialization and job creation while improving Nigeria’s image as a producer of safe and high-quality goods.
In conclusion, Aseperi-Shonibare called for collaboration between federal and state governments, regulatory bodies, and private investors to build the necessary infrastructure, such as testing laboratories and logistics facilities, across the country. He urged Nigeria to move from merely exporting raw materials to producing globally competitive goods, emphasizing that halal standards would enable the country to compete favorably in international trade and attract more foreign exchange. He concluded by urging policymakers to expedite the implementation process, ensuring transparency and stakeholder engagement, and emphasizing that the halal economy offers Nigeria a practical path to industrial growth, job creation, and national development.