Nigeria Agric Minister pledges support for ACA Conference
The Nigerian Federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, His Excellency Mohammed Mahood, has pledged his support for the forthcoming 16th African Cashew Alliance (ACA) Cashew Conference and Expo to be held in Abuja in September.
He has also approved two technical officers of the Ministry to be part of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Conference who will report back to him on areas the Ministry’s support will be needed in hosting a successful Conference.
The Minister made these commitments on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, when a delegation of cashew stakeholders led by the President of the Board of Directors of the ACA, Mr Babatola Faseru, paid a courtesy call on him as part of preparations for the Conference to be held for the first time in Nigeria from 12th -15th September 2022, in Abuja.
Addressing the Minister, Mr Faseru reiterated the ACA’s vision of creating a sustainable and globally competitive African Cashew industry for the benefit of all actors in the industry.
To achieve this, he said the ACA continues to support the industry through advocacy, supply chain linkages, technical assistance, and global networking for exchange of knowledge and best practices. The ACA Cashew Conference, he highlighted, has become the flagship cashew event in Africa, with global participation having garnered a strong reputation over the last 15 years.
He said he was proud that under his leadership, Nigeria will be hosting the cashew world, through the ACA Conference, for the first time.
On his part, the President of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Prince Ojo Ajanaku, commended the Minister for his commitment towards the growth of the Nigerian cashew industry, especially the free distribution of improved cashew seedlings that is helping a lot of cashew farmers to expand their farms while more people establish new farms.
He said the NCAN remains committed to the development of the cashew sector in Nigeria hence, its partnership with the ACA in organizing the Conference.
In response, the Minister congratulated Mr Faseru on his election as the first Nigerian to occupy the high office of President of the ACA Board of Directors.
Highlighting the significance of the cashew sector, he said the ACA’s vision of creating a sustainable and competitive cashew industry is in line with the Nigerian government’s Cashew Value Chain Development program implemented by his Ministry.
The program, he said, is aimed at promoting the sustainable development of the cashew sector, while ensuring the sector’s contribution towards the government’s Economic Diversification Agenda. He therefore stated that the Ministry, under his leadership, will continue to support and collaborate with the ACA and other stakeholders to ensure sustainable development of the Nigerian cashew sector.
He urged the ACA and NCAN to continue to work harmoniously towards a successful conference and the development of the cashew sector.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune
