• Say halal industry fast evolving in Africa’s most populous country
• As HCA holds 4th International Halal Seminar in Lagos
Professor of Islamic Jurisprudence at the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), Luqman Zakariyah, has urged the current Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, to revisit the report and activities of the Technical Committee on the Development of a Roadmap and Operational Framework for Halal Certification in Nigeria.
The 14-man Committee members commissioned in 2022 were selected from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the Organized Private Sector (OPS) involved in the Halal Value-chain.
The Don said the revisit becomes necessary as Nigeria’s halal ecosystem continues to evolve significantly, gaining acceptance from both Muslims and non-Muslims for its effectiveness and wide range of benefits.
Prof. Zakariyah made this statement on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at the 4th International Halal Seminar organised by the Halal Certification Authority (HCA) at Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Themed: ‘Exploring Halal Industry for a balanced growth and development’, the one-day event brought together important stakeholders in the halal industry both within and outside Nigeria.
Prof. Zakariyah lamented that lack of full government intervention in regulating and authenticating the halal industry in Nigeria has left many local manufacturers with no clear directions, especially in terms of certifying their products with halal authorization.
“Nigeria’s halal economy is emerging, with growing consumer awareness, particularly in the Islamic finance sector, which includes four national Islamic banks —Jaiz Bank, Taj Bank, Lotus Bank, and Alternative Bank (Sterling Bank). The government is also exploring Sukuk for infrastructure development.
The halal food sector is evolving, but regulations are required to further its development. The report by the Technical Committee of the Halal Roadmap in Nigeria should be revisited by the new Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment,” he said in his keynote address at the seminar.
The university lecturer said former Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, commissioned the technical committee to harness the immense opportunities in the global halal market for Nigeria.
The committee had the responsibility to prepare a framework for halal industry development and a roadmap for its implementation in the country.
“Inaugurated on the 19th July, 2022, the committee was asked to prepare a report on October 11, 2022. Meanwhile, from all visible indications, the report is yet to be implemented,” Prof. Zakariyah said.
“There are more efforts expected from the Federal Government on standardization of the halal industry in Nigeria. This issue has gone beyond religious stride. It has become economic, social and wellness affairs. The effort of the Technical Committee established by the former Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment needs to be revisited and implemented. Such effort should not go in vain.
“SON, however, deserves the accolade for rising to the responsibility of standardization for its continuous efforts in representing Nigeria’s interest in the Halal global forum.”
The Professor of Islamic Jurisprudence stressed that apart from boosting the economy, Nigeria is well positioned to become the halal hub of Africa if government works with major stakeholders to increase halal certification.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Halal Procurement Procedure: (HPP): The Nigeria Outlook to the Global Demand,’ he said it is only the Shari’ah Procurement Procedure that can serve as a viable option because other procedures are not clear of inaccuracies.
“The term halal encompasses everything Muslims’ concerns. Anything forbidden or prohibited in Islamic law is referred to as haram (Khan et al., 2019). Halal include not only consumables, services and products but also dealings with clients in commerce, trades, and finances. Muslims must ensure that the halal rules of conducts are observed in every instance of their lives.
“Halal procurement involves activities like supplier management, quality checks, and ensuring compliance with Shariah practices. Establishing a halal procurement procedure is essential to align purchasing activities with Shariah practices. Supplier management is crucial in the development of halal procurement practices. The integration, evaluation, and selection of suppliers are key activities in halal procurement.”
The keynote speaker encouraged private stakeholders to ramp up awareness activities on halal, noting public awareness is still low in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s fair share in global Halal market infinitesimal: Biomedical consultant
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Dahiru Adamu, a lecturer at Bayero University, Kano (BUK) and biomedical consultant asserts that Nigeria still has a long way to go in terms of certification in the Halal industry.
He said: “Nigeria’s fair share in the global Halal market is infinitesimal. We are not where we are supposed to be and that is because there is no infrastructure for Halal Certification within the country. We have facilities for every other thing, we have little or no resources and facility for Halal Certification.
“If you consider what we are endowed with in Nigeria, it is really enormous, so, if we can get things right, in respect to the Halal industry, it is going to be a plus for us. Our government needs to provide the Halal industry with infrastructural facilities.
“When we say Halal Certification infrastructure, we are talking about the technical policies and laws put together to regulate the industry, ensure harmony and prevent conflict. It also involves conformity, training of assessors and standards on which certification will be based. We should also collaborate to ensure the attainment of set goals. All these put together translate to infrastructure in this context.”
He notes that Nigeria needs to tap into the prosperous Halal industry to further boost her economic growth . However, he expressed concerns on security and other problems facing the country.
According to him, Nigeria as a country, can export anything. Countries across the globe are in need of the resources we have here. Some have come in the past to scout for the things they need, but considering insecurity and other problems we still grapple with, we are not ready to tap into that source of wealth.
“We need to look into our policies, infrastructure, accreditation, good governance and most importantly, our agricultural practices. We should also ensure conformity in terms of standard, branding and packaging.
He eventually submitted that the country will get it right with HCA’s efforts.
Halal Industry, fastest-growing market: Prof. Oreagba
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman Management Team, Halal Certification Authority, Prof. Ibrahim Oreagba, said the theme of the seminar is most appropriate as it aligns with the strategic objectives of the organisation, which include to develop human capacity in the field of halal and its Industry’.
“The global halal industry as a whole is estimated to be worth around USD2.47 trillion (excluding Islamic finance) and is now one of the fastest-growing markets. Such expansion of the industry is because the global halal market of over 2 billion Muslims is no longer confined to Muslims only.
“Similarly, the halal industry is no longer confined to food and food-related products, but rather includes pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, health products, toiletries, and medical devices as well as service sector components such as hospitality, logistics, marketing, print and electronic media, packaging, branding, and financing.
“Hence, the theme is very apt at this point to explore the numerous opportunities inherent in adopting a halal lifestyle,” Prof. Oreagba stated.
He went further to highlight some milestones of HCA since establishment, including the certification of over 80 local and international clients; recognition by the Malaysian Halal Council (JAKIM) and the Halal Accreditation Agency Turkiye; serving as a founding member of the National Technical Committee on the Development of a Roadmap and Operational Framework for Halal Certification in Nigeria under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in November 2021; among others.
The Chairman noted that HCA has ongoing partnerships with the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, (FIIRO), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), Abuja Chamber of Commerce (ACCI), Lagos State Government Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Agriculture.
“Our international partners include the Halal Food Authority (HFA) United Kingdom, the International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART) Malaysia, and the Halal Industry Development Corporation, Malaysia (HDC).”
Prof. Oreagba charged participants to make the best out of the opportunities presented by the international seminar, while thanking the chairman of occasion, organising committee and the HCA boards for their contributions to the success of the programme.
“Mr. Chairman and distinguished guests, I salute your commitment to progress and unity, I appreciate your faith that made it possible for you all to assemble here despite the many daunting national challenges we all face today.
“I most sincerely wish to appreciate the organizing committee led by the indefatigable chairman, Dr Abdulganiyu Adelopo. Many thanks to the HCA Board of Trustees and the HCA Advisory board members for their rare contributions. We wish you all a joyful and beneficial stay and a safe trip to your blessed destinations after the conference.”
We’ll continue to support development of halal market: Rite Foods Boss
Muslim News reports that the seminar featured technical sessions, masterclasses, B2B networking sessions, and presentations by international experts from the United Kingdom and Malaysia.
For his part, Chairman of the Occasion and MD/CEO Rite Foods Limited, Mr. Seleem Adegunwa, commended HCA for championing the entrenchment of product quality in line with Shari’a and international standards, noting that it has contributed greatly to the growth of halal market in Nigeria.
The MD/CEO who was represented by Alh Hameed Tijani, the External relationship management consultant, Rite foods, said Rite Foods will continue to support genuine attempts at enhancing quality assurance and development of the halal market in Nigeria.
“According to Halal Markets Report 2023, Nigeria has become the world’s eighth-largest domestic halal economy market. Domestic spending on halal economy products and services in Nigeria reached US$107 billion in 2022, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.7% to reach US$180 billion by 2027. Your activities will help accelerate further development of Halal market in Nigeria,” he said.
“As a key stakeholder in the Nigerian food and beverages industry, Rite Foods Ltd. is poised to support any genuine attempts at enhancing quality assurance and development of Halal market in Nigeria and it is important to mention that Rite Foods Ltd. got Halal certification on the 7th of February 2022. We assure you of our supports towards the actualisation of your lofty aims which are aimed at developing and establishing halal products standards in conformity with Islamic Law and international standards.”
Seminar, interactive, company-oriented: HCA Analyst
Halal Certification Authority (HCA) Analyst, Hajia Kabirat Oyinlola Ajani, said the 2024 edition of the International Halal Seminar is a departure from previous ones because it is interactive and company-oriented.
She said participating companies are some of the first set of brands to embrace halal certification in Nigeria.
“The difference between this year’s edition and the previous ones is that this is company-oriented. We’re here to fulfill their demands and that’s why we have a masterclass session. As you can see, it’s an interactive session in which clients are allowed to ask questions regarding their respective industries and businesses. They inquire to improve productivity and promote halal output and services.
“We all know that in Nigeria, the halal industry is still an infant. I can say those we have here are the first set of companies and brands that will be embracing halal so far. They have been cooperative and they know the value of halal, especially in global markets. They are willing to learn and key into the Halal world, because they how relevant it is globally.”
Halal market, relevant for food safety, consumer protection: Mrs Oreagba
Mrs Basirah Bolade Oreagba, food Processing and Branding Addition Expert, Halal Certification Authority, for her part, said the halal initiative is very relevant for ensuring food safety and consumer protection.
“Take the cholera outbreak that the country is currently battling with as an instance; the halal industry ensures that people eat and drink what is healthy. It’s all about wholesomeness, safety and wealth creation. So, more importance should be attached to halal in the Nigerian economy,” the expert said.
“Halal is universal, it’s not just for Muslims only. Everyone wants to stay healthy and safe. So, halal is for everyone.”
Participants commend HCA, describe seminar as enlightening
Participants at the seminar praised Halal Certification Authority for organising the seminar, which they described as enlightening.
Representatives from Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Rite Foods Limited and Golden Sugar Free Zone Enterprise spoke to Muslim News on the sidelines of the seminar.
Executive Director of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Prince Sulaiman Olagunju said the experience at the event has been nothing short of interesting.
“The organisers have actually done a very good job,” he said.
“However, I feel the topic of discourse is a matter that affects all, so, it should not be seen as Muslim affairs. Halal Industry is for everyone. It centers on our ways of life, what we consumed and how to ensure that it is beneficial to us, rather than harmful. So, everyone should be involved.”
He also used the opportunity to remind business owners that refusal to pay zakat from any form of wealth is detrimental.
“So, business owners should attach due importance to Zakat. Their compliance will in turn facilitate the establishment of more companies, creation of more jobs and the attainment of a saner society for everyone to thrive.
“We’ll use their monies to fund low income earners and startups aspiring to have businesses of their own. Their little contributions will help bring these people to life. As such, we’re building more wealth for humanity.”
For her part, the Regulatory Affairs Officer, Rite Foods Limited, Hajia Mutiat Adetona, said halal certification has assisted the company to improve quality.
“All our products have been certified long ago and it has been very helpful. Halal certification has really helped improve our GMD, GHK and overall operations. So, the quality of our products has been topnotch. Halal, alongside other regulatory agencies, has greatly affected our production and marketing approaches.”
Obi Kelvin, participant representing Golden Sugar Free Zone Enterprise disclosed that Halal Certification has helped position his company better.
He said: “Halal actually promotes some healthy practices and they are meant to ensure some food safety standards. We are not compliant just because we want to satisfy our customers, but we also want to ensure best practices in our production and distribution processes. Their policies that we keyed into have also helped in promoting our business.”
He suggested to manufacturers to embrace halal to tackle problem of food safety and boost their turnover.
“Food safety has become a global issue affecting everyone, as such, it is pertinent that every manufacturer embraces the Halal industry and use alternatives and standard materials that are safe for consumption.
“I’ll urge business owners to tap into the Halal industry, as it further boosts their turnover.
“They should know that their products can go global once certified by Halal. The process of certification is seamless. It was quite easy when we attained ours. They made easy for everyone to get certification, irrespective of religion, background or faith.”
He urge those who are informed to educate others on the halal industry and its benefits.
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