Dr. Ojo Joseph Ajanaku is a Nigerian entrepreneur, agricultural commodity industry leader, exporter and advocate for the transformation of Nigeria’s cashew value chain. He serves as National President of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) and has built a career spanning agriculture, international trade, business development, finance, leadership and corporate governance.
His journey from his early education in rural Edo State to national and international leadership reflects
decades of personal development, entrepreneurship and involvement in Nigeria’s agricultural economy
Dr. Ajanaku began his formal education at Community School, Orere, Igarra, before proceeding to Uffah Primary School, Uffah, Igarra, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State. His secondary education took him through several communities within Akoko-Edo. He spent his first year at Igarra Comprehensive Secondary School, Igarra, before proceeding in his second year to Enwan Secondary School, Enwan. In his third year, he attended Uneme-Osu Grammar School and subsequently continued his education at Uneme-Nekhua. He eventually completed this stage of his education at IgarraTechnical College, Igarra.
Dr. Ajanaku later attended Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, where he studied Banking and Finance at Ordinary National Diploma (OND) level and subsequently obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accounting. His pursuit of knowledge continued beyond conventional academic qualifications into leadership, management and governance. He obtained aDoctorate in Philosophy in Leadership and Corporate Governance from the Institute of Leadership Manpower and Management Development.
In addition to his formal education, Dr. Ajanaku has participated in different leadership forums, management-development programmes, church leadership programmes and Bible training schools. These experiences have contributed to a leadership philosophy centred on service, integrity, institutional development, accountability and human development.
Dr. Ajanaku has extensive experience in private enterprise, particularly agricultural commodities, cashew production and processing, exports, international trade and business development. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Seacos Nigeria Limited, an agricultural commodity and export-oriented enterprise. His business interests and partnerships have also involved Gulf Cashew Industries Limited, OADA Global Resources and other enterprises and commercial partners operating across the agricultural value chain.
His entrepreneurial activities have increasingly concentrated on developing Nigeria’s capacity to move beyond the export of agricultural raw materials towards sustainable local processing and value addition, while maintaining viable international markets for Nigerian farmers and exporters.
Dr. Ajanaku’s name has become closely associated with the development and international promotion of
Nigeria’s cashew industry. As National President of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), he has participated in engagements with government institutions, farmers, processors, exporters, development partners and international cashew organisations.
His leadership agenda has focused particularly on increasing cashew production, improving farmers’ livelihoods, strengthening domestic processing, attracting investment, expanding export opportunities, developing reliable industry data, engaging young people and women in the value chain, and ensuring that government policy reflects the practical realities facing producers. His broader vision is for Nigeria to strengthen its position as a major global cashew producer while progressively building internationally competitive processing, value-addition and manufacturing capacity.
One of the major industry platforms associated with Dr. Ajanaku’s leadership is Nigeria Cashew Day, conceived as a meeting point for producers, processors, exporters, government agencies, investors, development partners and other participants in the value chain. The initiative began in Benin City in 2023 and subsequently developed into an annual national industry event. The 4th Nigeria Cashew Day, held in 2026 in collaboration with the African Cashew Alliance (ACA), carried the theme “Unlocking the Full Potential of Nigeria’s Cashew Industry through Investment, Innovation and Global Trade.” One of the accompanying awards records Seacos Nigeria Limited as a Platinum Sponsor of the 4th Nigeria Cashew Day 2026, presented by NCAN in collaboration with the African Cashew Alliance.
Dr. Ajanaku has participated in international engagements aimed at promoting Nigeria’s cashew industry and connecting Nigerian businesses and producers with global markets.
His international cashew engagements have included World Cashew Conference activities, engagements in Africa, and participation in the VINACAS Golden Cashew Rendezvous in Vietnam. In 2025, an NCAN-VINACAS Memorandum of Understanding was signed to deepen cooperation in areas including cashew production, processing, technology and trade.
Profile of Dr. Ojo Joseph Ajanaku
The 2024 World Cashew Conference in Siem Reap, Cambodia, lists Dr. Ojo Joseph Ajanaku President National Cashew Association of Nigeria among the delegates. These engagements form part of his broader objective of connecting Nigerian producers and businesses with global markets, technology providers, investors and processing expertise.
A significant feature of Dr. Ajanaku’s industry leadership has been his involvement in national debates concerning the future regulatory framework for cashew. He has advocated a model in which local processing and industrialisation are expanded progressively while farmers retain economically viable markets for their produce. His position has emphasised the need for affordable financing, infrastructure, reliable industry statistics, mechanisation, storage, logistics and increased domestic processing capacity.
He has also advocated inclusive stakeholder participation in the development of national cashew policies and roadmaps, with particular attention to the interests of farmers, processors, exporters and other legitimate participants in the value chain.
His broader position is that Nigeria should ultimately become not merely a producer of raw cashew nuts but a major centre for production, processing, value addition, manufacturing and international cashew trade.
Dr. Ajanaku and the organizations he leads have received various recognitions.
Dr. Ajanaku’s professional development combines financial training, accounting, entrepreneurship, agricultural trade, corporate governance, Christian leadership education and practical experience managing organisations.
His approach places emphasis on institution building, integrity, service, accountability, partnership, farmer empowerment and economic independence through productive enterprise.
His experience as both an exporter and industry association leader has given him exposure to both sides of agricultural development: the everyday commercial realities faced by farmers and businesses and the policy and institutional decisions that shape the industry.
Dr. Ojo Joseph Ajanaku’s long-term vision is centred on helping transform Nigeria’s agricultural resources into sustainable national prosperity.
For the cashew industry in particular, his advocacy envisages a Nigeria capable of dramatically expanding production, establishing internationally competitive processing capacity, empowering smallholder farmers, creating employment for young Nigerians and women, attracting responsible investment, increasing non-oil exports and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the international cashew economy. His journey – from Community School, Orere, Igarra, to Uffah Primary School, Uffah, Igarra, and through schools across Akoko-Edo, Igarra Technical College and Auchi Polytechnic, to entrepreneurship and national and international agricultural leadership – forms the foundation of a personal story centred on continuous learning, enterprise and service.
Today, Dr. Ojo Joseph Ajanaku combines his responsibilities as an entrepreneur and corporate executive with his leadership activities in Nigeria’s cashew industry, while continuing to advocate for a Nigerian agricultural economy in which farmers, processors, exporters and investors can participate productively and sustainably