By Eneojo Herbert Idakwo
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) on July 15, 2026, conducted what it described as a stakeholders’ validation workshop for the Nigeria Cashew Industry Roadmap. At the event, government officials reaffirmed their commitment to transforming Nigeria from a major exporter of raw cashew nuts into a leading processor and exporter of value-added cashew products. The roadmap seeks to promote domestic processing, create jobs, increase farmers’ incomes and strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil exports.
Ordinarily, such a development should be welcomed across the industry. Nigeria has long needed a coherent policy framework to address persistent challenges in the cashew value chain, including low domestic processing capacity, inadequate financing, weak market coordination and the continued export of over 85 percent of raw cashew nuts.
However, what should have been a milestone for the sector has instead generated controversy.
Before the validation workshop commenced, the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), under the leadership of Dr. Ojo Joseph Ajanaku, publicly dissociated itself from the exercise. In an official statement, the association declared that it neither authorised nor participated in the workshop and warned that anyone claiming to represent NCAN at the event did so without its mandate.
Following the workshop, Dr. Ajanaku issued a presidential statement to members of the association, assuring them that the leadership remained actively engaged in protecting the interests of the industry through lawful institutional channels. He urged members to remain calm and disregard unofficial narratives.
This development raises an important policy question.
Can a national industry policy truly be validated without the active participation of the industry’s recognised umbrella association?
The answer is more complex than a simple yes or no.
From a strictly legal perspective, a ministry is not necessarily prevented from validating a policy document if an association declines participation or if disagreements exist among stakeholders. Government retains the authority to formulate and adopt national policies.
However, public policy today is measured not only by legal authority but also by legitimacy, inclusiveness and stakeholder ownership.
Globally, policy validation is intended to confirm that those who will implement, regulate and be affected by a policy have had the opportunity to review, question and improve it before adoption. It is not merely a ceremonial event. It is the final stage of consultation.
This principle is recognised by international development institutions, including the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the OECD, all of which emphasise meaningful stakeholder engagement as an essential component of sound public policy.
The cashew industry is fundamentally private sector driven.
Government provides regulation and policy direction, but production, aggregation, processing and export are carried out by farmers, processors, exporters, cooperatives and investors.
That is precisely why stakeholder organisations matter.
According to NCAN, it is the umbrella association representing farmers, traders, processors, exporters and other operators across Nigeria’s cashew value chain.
If such an organisation claims it was excluded from validating a national roadmap, the issue deserves careful examination rather than dismissal.
Adding another layer to the controversy is the apparent leadership dispute within the association itself.
Reports from the validation workshop quoted an individual identified as the President of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria, Mr. Ademola Adesokan, as pledging support for implementation of the roadmap.
Yet months earlier, the NCAN Annual General Meeting led by Dr. Ojo Ajanaku announced the expulsion of Mr. Adesokan, alleging impersonation and unconstitutional activities. The association also resolved that representatives from every segment of the value chain should review the roadmap before any validation and warned against what it described as clandestine attempts to influence the document.
This suggests that the controversy extends beyond policy. It also touches on questions of representation and institutional recognition.
If there are competing claims to the leadership of NCAN, government has a responsibility to clarify which body it officially recognises and on what legal basis.
Failure to do so risks creating uncertainty throughout the industry.
The broader concern is not simply who attended a workshop.
The real issue is whether the validation process enjoyed sufficient credibility to produce broad acceptance across the sector.
A roadmap implemented without the confidence of major stakeholders may face resistance during execution, regardless of how well written the document may be.
Conversely, if the ministry genuinely consulted a broad range of stakeholders beyond NCAN, it should transparently publish the list of participating organisations and explain the consultation process. Such openness would strengthen confidence in the roadmap and reduce unnecessary speculation.
The Nigerian cashew industry stands at an important crossroads.
Global demand for processed cashew products continues to rise.
Nigeria possesses the land, climate, farmers and export potential to become a global processing hub rather than merely a supplier of raw nuts.
Achieving that ambition requires more than an excellent policy document.
It requires trust.
Trust between government and industry.
Trust among competing industry groups.
Trust that policy decisions are driven by national interest rather than institutional rivalry.
The current disagreement should therefore not be viewed merely as an internal dispute within NCAN or a disagreement with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
It should become an opportunity to strengthen stakeholder engagement before implementation begins.
If important stakeholders genuinely believe they were excluded, there remains room for additional consultations.
Policy validation should mark the end of consultation, not the beginning of controversy.
Ultimately, the success of the Nigeria Cashew Industry Roadmap will not be judged by the applause received during its launch.
It will be measured by whether farmers earn better incomes, processors expand local capacity, exporters become more competitive, investors commit new capital and Nigeria secures greater value from every tonne of cashew produced.
Those goals can best be achieved when government and the industry’s legitimate stakeholders work from the same roadmap, with shared ownership of both the process and the outcome.
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