Nigeria Cassava Investment Accelerator

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The Nigeria Cassava Investment Accelerator (NCIA) is a strategic initiative, funded by the Gates Foundation, and hosted at Lagos Business School (LBS), established to drive investments toward the industrialisation of cassava in Nigeria. 

The NCIA was born from an ambition to transform Nigeria’s cassava industry and drive the economy towards industrialisation. It builds on past interventions and programmes, is informed by lessons learned from previous efforts, and seeks to plug into and amplify ongoing work in the cassava value chain. As the world’s largest producer of cassava, Nigeria produces over 61 million metric tonnes annually, contributing a remarkable $9 billion to the agricultural GDP. Despite this impressive output, the cassava industry presents a vast untapped potential worth an estimated $5 billion. 

The NCIA is committed to transforming this potential into sustainable economic growth. By mobilising stakeholders from public and private sectors, we aim to catalyse a thriving cassava industrialisation ecosystem that assures food security and creates jobs. We believe that through strategic partnerships among stakeholders, government policy and regulatory support, as well as targeted investments in technology and farming, Nigeria can harness cassava’s full potential to drive socio-economic transformation.

OUR MISSION

To catalyse Nigeria’s cassava industry into an engine of sustainable growth, driving economic progress and enhancing livelihoods across the value chain to support the cultivation of a resilient cassava ecosystem by unlocking capital and empowering stakeholders to drive sustainable growth and improve livelihoods.

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Our Approach

The NCIA adopts a holistic approach to drive cassava industrialisation, focusing on these key areas:

Evaluating the market demand, economic potential, and feasibility of scaling cassava derivatives to bridge the supply-demand gap in both quantity and quality.

Attracting local and foreign investors to expand cassava production and enhance processing facilities.

Strengthening farm-to-factory linkages to ensure a steady supply of cassava feedstock for processing industries.

Empowering farmers with skills, technology, and resources to boost cassava yield and quality.

Collaborating with government bodies to establish a supportive environment for cassava industrialisation.

Industrialisation Pathway Development

Sweetener

Focusing on scaling cassava-based sweetener production to meet demand from Nigeria’s growing food and beverage industries. By expanding processing facilities, ensuring steady tuber supply, and fostering partnerships with large-scale off-takers, we can replace costly sugar imports with locally produced alternatives such as glucose and sorbitol.

High-Quality Cassava Flour

Improving processing efficiency and expanding high-quality cassava flour (HQCF) production, this pathway supports the inclusion of cassava flour in baked goods, pasta, and other food products. Increasing utilisation rates and fostering supply chain linkages between processors and bakeries will enhance Nigeria’s capacity to substitute wheat imports.

Bio-Ethanol

Promoting the scaling of cassava-based bio-ethanol production for use in food, beverages, and industrial products. By strengthening feedstock supply and securing off-take agreements with beverage manufacturers, the pathway addresses Nigeria’s growing ethanol demand while reducing reliance on imports.

Starch

Scaling cassava starch production can reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports, serving local demand for food, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. By adopting advanced processing methods and offering a cost-competitive, high-quality product, producers could effectively replace alternatives such as cornstarch with a locally sourced and more affordable alternative.

Our Team

 Meet the NCIA Team Driving this Effort

Professor Olayinka David-West

Project Coordinator

Dr Adedoyin Salami

Lead for Measurement, Learning and Evaluation (MLE)

Yetunde Odedokun

Lead for Investment Advisory

Joan Egwuterai

Lead for General Administration and Programme Management