NCAN Takes Firm Stand Against Cashew Roadmap Manipulation
The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has issued a strong declaration to resist any efforts to manipulate the country's cashew industry roadmap. This resolution was formally announced in a communiqué released at the conclusion of its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held alongside the 4th Nigeria Cashew Day. The event, organized jointly by NCAN and the African Cashew Alliance (ACA), carried the theme "Unlocking the Full Potential of Nigeria’s Cashew Industry through Investment, Innovation and Global Trade."
Expulsion of Member for Unauthorized Activities
In a significant move, the communiqué, signed by key officials including National President Dr. Ojo Joseph Ajanaku, National Secretary Unekwuojo Augustine Edime, Chairman of the NCAN Board of Trustees Sunday Uzoechi, and Secretary Abraham Adesina, announced the expulsion of Mr. Ademola Adesokan. This action was taken due to allegations of impersonation and other criminal activities that undermined the association's integrity.
The AGM resolved to expel Adesokan for unlawfully convening a purported Interim Executive Council and an unauthorized AGM in Lagos on January 20, 2026. It was noted that Adesokan, who registered in June 2025, attempted to assume leadership roles and initiate electoral processes within just three months. This directly violated the NCAN Constitution, which stipulates that members must have paid yearly dues for at least two consecutive years and actively participated in association activities before being eligible for executive positions.
Commitment to Transparent Roadmap Review
The AGM emphasized the importance of transparency in reviewing the cashew roadmap. It resolved to convene a stakeholders meeting across the entire cashew value chain to ensure a thorough review before validation. The communiqué stated, "any clandestine review or collusion between individuals and/or organizations to influence the roadmap shall be regarded as a deliberate attempt to undermine the interests of farmers and compromise the integrity of Nigeria’s cashew sector." NCAN vowed to resist such acts through all available legal and regulatory measures.
This stance comes in response to Adesokan's recent claim of being the elected National President of the association. Additionally, the AGM called for a full investigation into the involvement of Mr. Babatola Faseru and others in Adesokan's unlawful activities, with recommendations for disciplinary action at the next AGM.
Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
Beyond disciplinary actions, the AGM acknowledged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with VINACAS and committed to ensuring the timely development and implementation of the agreed framework. In a major agricultural push, the AGM endorsed a 500 million cashew seedling production and distribution project for 2026. This initiative, led by the Office of the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, builds upon the 120,000 seedlings distributed by NCAN in 2025.
The AGM mandated the National President to collaborate with the Vice President's Office to advance cashew production in Nigeria. Furthermore, stakeholders at the summit resolved to sustain the growth of Nigeria's cashew industry by anchoring it on a balanced, market-driven framework. This approach aims to expand production, safeguard farmer incomes, and accelerate domestic value addition.
To achieve these goals, it was agreed that domestic processing capacity must be urgently scaled up through public-private partnerships, ensuring the industry's long-term viability and competitiveness on the global stage.
