If you want to know what is wrong with the Nigerian economy, look no further than the sesame seed market 

Ayo Akinfe 

[1] Global sesame seed production totals about 7m tonnes, with Sudan, Myanmar and Tanzania the three leading producers 

[2] Nigeria is the world’s sixth largest producer of sesame seeds, with an annual output of 490,000 tonnes

[3] However, we are number 35 when it comes to the production of sesame seed oil, with a meagre output of 2,400 tonnes. Basically, we as a people, we are not interested in investing in crushing plants or production facilities 

[4]  What happens in Nigeria is we export our sesame seed to countries like India, China and Myanmar and then our so-called businessmen rush to state houses to get government orders to supply sesame seed oil from these same countries who have processed our seeds 

[5] Sesame seed sells for about $1,000 a tonne but the processed oil probably sells for about 10 times that amount on the international market. Japanese oilseed companies source 64% of their sesame seed from Africa, crush it into oil and make millions selling it on the global market 

[6] Sesame seed oil solvents are widely used in injected drugs and intravenous drip solutions and were Nigeria a serious nation, we would have cornered a niche in this market. If we expand production, who is to say we cannot generate up to $10bn annually from sesame seed oil alone?

[7] All those big men going to see governors in their suits, kaftans, agbadas, isiagus, fedoras, etc, looking for supply contracts, should be looking to open sesame seed crushing plants to employ those Almajiris and make use of what is a great opening. Instead, they would rather ask for crude oil handouts from governors 

[8] Japan is the world's largest sesame importer. Sesame oil, particularly from roasted seed, is an important component of Japanese cookingand traditionally the principal use of the seed. China is the second-largest importer of sesame, mostly oil-grade. Can someone please explain to me why we do not have supply contracts with both countries 

[9] Sesame exports sell across a wide price range. Quality perception, particularly how the seed looks, is a major pricing factor. Most importers who supply ingredient distributors and oil processors only want to purchase scientifically treated, properly cleaned, washed, dried, colour-sorted, size-graded and impurity-free seeds with a guaranteed minimum oil content of not less than 40%, packed according to international standards. Can someone please explain to me why we do not have at least four such factories in Nigeria 

[10] When Obafemi Awolowo was the premier of the Old Western Region, he used to tell his commissioners not to come to him without having thoughts about how to address the problem in their ministries. I look forward to the day our governors will ban all courtesy visits and restrict access to people who visit with ideas