Morocco considers investing in sesame in Nigeria’s Yobe State
NIGERIA – The Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE) is looking to attract direct investment into the agricultural sector, including sesame seeds in Yobe State, Nigeria.
This was revealed by Yassine El Ahyani, head of emerging industries at AMDIE, during a meeting held on February 11 in Rabat with a delegation from the state government. This initiative targets agricultural sectors with high export potential such as sesame and gum arabica.
“Sesame is highly sought after worldwide and is a promising investment for investors. Engaging in this sector would benefit both foreign capital and local producers, given the growing demand for agricultural products,” explained Mr. El Ahyani.
In Nigeria, sesame production has been steadily increasing for several years. According to forecasts by AFEX Commodities Exchange (AFEX), the country’s leading private commodities exchange, the sector is expected to record a fourth consecutive year of growth in 2025, with an estimated harvest of 613,000 tonnes.
Furthermore, the International Trade Centre (ITC) estimates that the country is able to export more than $570 million worth of sesame seeds to the international market per year, compared to revenues almost four times lower in 2023 ($151.5 million).
Although Yobe State plays a marginal role in the national supply of oilseeds, compared to major producers such as Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa States, which produce more than 60,000 tonnes annually, production of sesame in Yobe state is expected to be jolsted significantly, should these Moroccan investments gain profits .
According to data from Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture, Yobe State produced 3,500 tonnes of sesame seeds in 2021, representing less than 1% of the national production which stood at over 572,700 tonnes this year.
Nigeria is the leading West African producer of sesame and the third largest on the continent after Sudan and Tanzania. The potential of the sector attracts both local and foreign investors.
Nigeria’s sesame seed exports reached N247.75 billion (US$161M) in the first quarter of 2024, marking a 99% increase from the fourth quarter of 2023.
Sesame seed exports contributed 1.3% to Nigeria’s total exports, while agriculture accounted for 5.4% of the N19.17 trillion (US$12.5B) in 2024 according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
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