The Cassava Industry, the bedrock of Agricultural production in West Africa, has always been plagued with its fair share of problems ranging from the lack of access to farm-able agricultural land, deficiency in agricultural equipment supply, through a myriad of funding issues, and a fair share of brunt agricultural policies subject to curtailment by the next political reign, to lack of consistent and affordable energy, and marketing issues.
Our goal therefore at CASSAVACONSULT is to depreciate instances of inefficient production, capacity underutilization and venture capital deficiency by fostering value added manufacturing, providing a range of advisory services, streamlining efforts along the value chain and bridging the ever widening gap between Cassava Farmers, Cassava Processors and Cassava Industry end-users, arranging equipment manufacturer collaboration and industry end-user partnerships through:
-
- Government collaborations
- Farming equipment provider collaborations
- Financial institution collaborations
- Industry end-user partnerships.
- Risk Analysis
- Financial Analysis and
- Business Advisory Services
To execute this mission, Our award-winning team of Agro, finance, project, business and venture capitalist professionals have formed an ally to bring a mix of efficient and effective solutions to this significant industry
Dele Ogunlade, FCCA – C.E.O/President
A fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Dele Ogunlade is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). His professional career spanned UAC of Nigeria Plc and multiple accounting firms before he joined PZ Cussons Plc, one of Nigeria’s largest multi-national companies, leading its financial, tax and logistics operations as a Treasurer (comptroller) for two decades. His service in PZ Cussons Plc contributed to continuous successful operations during the tough fiscal periods of the Structural adjusted Programme (SAP), when financial and several other manufacturing firms collapsed in large numbers. As Treasurer/Comptroller of P.Z Cussons Plc, then the highest capitalized company in the country, Mr. Ogunlade played a massive role in reducing bank lending rates from a high of 35% per annum to the lowest point of 7% between 1996 and 1997. His actions also led to an avoidance of losses to failed banks.
Most recently, for ten years, he spearheaded the continuity of the country’s top cassava starch producer, Matna Foods Company Limited. He transformed the company from a position of receivership threat, leading efforts in increased production and profits, paying mandated dividends for some years, liquidating all trade debts and accumulating more than enough liquidity to wipe off the outstanding remnants of bank loans and overdrafts. He left the Company on a very positive position in an industry where top players have either gone out of business or are on the verge of bankruptcy with debts overhang.
He won many local and international awards for self and for Matna Foods Company Limited, including “Best Export Company” awards for two consecutive years from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) “NIS” award for quality. Under his watch, the company gained international recognition and successfully registered as a member of the Suppliers Ethical Data Exchange group (SEDEX), an international quality and ethical monitoring group.
He also generated support from NGOs and international agro-organizations that include USAID and C.AVA (a Bill Gates Foundation organization) in the development of the cassava business in Nigeria.
Dr. Adeola Odedina – Consultant, Agro Development Programs
Dr. Odedina, is an Agro Professional with an extensive educational background in Agriculture Sciences to include M.Sc. in Crop Science, a Ph.D. in Crop Production, a Postgraduate Certificate in Agricultural Education from Wolverhampton University,United Kingdom, a Postgraduate Certificate in Vegetable Science and Technology from Beijing Vegetable Research Centre, China and a Post Ph.D Certificate in Biotechnology from the Brazilian Corporation for Agricultural Research (EMBRAPA). A researcher, teacher and expert in agricultural program, Dr. Odedina joined the educational services in 1990 and quickly rose through the ranks to the position of of a Provost.
Dr. Odedina is a Certified Master Trainer in Agricultural Value Chains from Bern University of Applied Science, Switzerland; a Consultant to diverse international development projects and institutions which include: Cassava Adding Value for Africa (C:AVA Phase I and II), HarvestPlus/CIAT Biofortification (Vitamin A Cassava), USAID Markets, Agriculture and Technology Transfer Programme in East Africa (DFID AgriTT) by DFID UK, Swiss Government Capacity Building in Agricultural Extension Programme (CBAEN), CRS Sustainable Cassava Seed System Project, Natural Resource Institute, University of Greenwich UK, Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB) Abeokuta, Ekiti State FADAMA III project, etc. He has in the past, successfully linked the College to several private sector players such as Elizade Nigeria Ltd., Honeywell Group, Matna Foods, Sunshine Cassava Factory, Ondo State, Mic Makin Foods, Blopamed Nigeria Ltd etc., who have all responded to Government interest and investment in Agricultural transformation.
Dr. Odedina has participated in International Managerial and Technical Trainings, Workshops and Seminars in several countries which include: Australia, United Kingdom, USA, Canada, China, South Africa, Brazil, Switzerland, Swaziland, Kenya, Germany, Cameroon and Ghana. His exposure and wealth of experience has been of immense value in the College’s mission to produce graduates who can take advantage of emerging opportunities in agricultural and related sectors
Until his appointment as the substantive Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure in January 2015, he was a Chief Lecturer in the Department of Crop Production and Coordinator of World Bank West Africa Productivity Project (WAAPP) and FAO/FGN/SSC/Regional Multi Service Extension Centre (REMSEC) at the College. He currently has over 58 publications in national and international media and continues to work