By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Stakeholders across the country, Thursday, unveiled a strategy and roadmap to speedup agro-industrialisation, economic diversification and increased non-oil export worth billion-dollars using cashew value chain.
The roadmap sets out a policy and strategy framework for 2026–2035 aimed at strengthening domestic processing, improving farmer incomes, and positioning Nigeria competitively in the global cashew trade.
They spoke at just concluded 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) organised by the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) which culminated into a validation meeting jointly held with the African Cashew Alliance (ACA), arguing that this was achievable in five years if adopted.
According to the association's National President, Chief Ademola Adesokan, validating the roadmap was essential and long overdue but critical to the country’s economic future because "Nigeria is a home to some of the finest cashews in the world."
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu, disclosed that the ministry would support the initiative through sustained collaboration with relevant stakeholders for long-term growth and sustainability.
Participants at the event had reviewed plans for the production and distribution of 500 million improved cashew seedlings in 2026 under an initiative championed by the Office of the Vice President, with Kogi State targeting the distribution of five million seedlings this year.