By Our Correspondent
Nigeria has signed a historic partnership with Vietnam to deepen cooperation in cashew production, processing, and technology, a deal that also spotlighted Kogi State’s cashew as the world’s best and most nutritious.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) and the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) was formalized during the 14th VINACAS Golden Cashew Rendezvous in
Hanoi, where Nigeria emerged as a key highlight of the global cashew summit.
VINACAS President Pham Van Cong said Vietnam, with more than 500 processing firms, would share technology and expertise to enhance Nigeria’s value addition and global competitiveness.
NCAN President Dr. Joseph Ojo Ajanaku described the pact as a “turning point” for Nigeria’s non-oil export drive, noting that Nigeria exported over $20 million worth of cashew to Vietnam in 2025 alone.
He said Kogi cashew’s unique flavor and nutritional value earned it global acclaim, adding that new Vietnamese technology will enable local production of cashew juice and other by-products, creating jobs and wealth.
“Cashew is the new oil, and Kogi is its capital,” Ajanaku declared.
Nigeria currently produces about 200,000 metric tonnes of cashew annually, mostly exported raw. With expanded processing, experts project annual earnings could exceed $500 million.
Industry watchers say the pact marks the dawn of a new era, one where Nigeria’s cashew, led by Kogi’s premium variety, takes its place on
the global stage.
