In collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, the Federal Government has announced its commitment to developing strategies aimed at maximizing the advantages of cultivating, processing, and enhancing the value of cashew production and its associated supply chain.

This announcement came during a one-day interactive session organized by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Ogun State Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment. The event, themed "Cashew Value Chain Global Best Practices—Paving the Way for Export Competitiveness," took place in Imasayi, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Dr. Olu Ola Aikulola, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, emphasized in his keynote address the historical dependence of the Nigerian economy on the volatile oil sector, highlighting the necessity of transitioning towards non-oil exports. Aikulola underscored cashew as a key product in Ogun State under the One-State, One-Product (OSOP Initiative). He expressed the belief that this engagement with stakeholders would facilitate the identification of challenges affecting cashew farming and processing, areas requiring intervention, and updates on international market standards for cashew exports.

Aikulola also highlighted the state government's dedication to creating favorable policies, initiatives, and programs to enhance the business environment. He particularly mentioned that Yewa North Local Government Area possesses a competitive advantage in cashew production. He stated that the objective of the meeting was to provide farmers with strategies for optimizing cashew planting and production, emphasizing value addition and the ensuing benefits.

The Permanent Secretary expressed optimism that this stakeholders' meeting would invigorate cashew production, aiming for significant progress in both production and value addition in Ogun State, not just in Imasayi or Yewa North Local Government Area.

Mrs. Francisca Odega, the Coordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in Ogun State, stressed the significance of the cashew sector in diversifying the economy. She called on farmers, processors, and aggregators to remain informed about evolving international market requirements for cashew exports, urging collaborative efforts to ensure Ogun cashew products are not only competitive but also in demand globally.

Oba Lukman Adeleke, the Olu of Imasayi, expressed gratitude to the government for revitalizing cashew production in the state and pledged that, with proper funding, his locality could annually produce 20,000 metric tons of cashews.

The meeting saw the participation of representatives from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Safety, the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), as well as cashew farmers, processors, and aggregators, among other stakeholders.