Blessing Okolocha

Nigerian entrepreneur revolutionizing the beauty industry through sustainable shea butter production

Blessing Okolocha is a pioneering Nigerian entrepreneur who founded Sheafrica Farms, a company dedicated to transforming the traditional shea butter industry into a modern, sustainable enterprise. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Okolocha identified the potential of Africa's indigenous shea nut resources while studying abroad in the UK. Her vision was to create a business model that empowers rural women while providing premium skincare products to global markets.

Traditional shea processing in West Africa had long been a gendered labor practice with little economic benefit for producers. Okolocha's innovation came in creating a value chain that connects over 10,000 rural women through cooperatives, ensuring fair wages and technical training. By implementing modern extraction techniques and quality control processes, Sheafrica Farms produces organic, cold-pressed shea butter that meets international cosmetic standards. This has enabled the company to export products to Europe and North America through partnerships with brands like Lush Cosmetics and The Body Shop.

Okolocha's impact extends beyond economics: her model reduces deforestation by promoting sustainable harvesting practices and provides healthcare benefits to participating communities. In 2016, she was named one of Africa's Top 100 Women by African Business Magazine, and in 2018 received the UNDP Gender Equality Award. Her TEDx talk "How Shea Butter is Building a Better Future" has over 500,000 views, spreading awareness about ethical beauty products.