Cocoa Industry: Nigeria ready to reposition, says Ope Ewe

Director, commodities, product inspectorate department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Opelolu Opeewe

As the first cocoa international conference commences August 28^th to 31^st, all preparation is in top gear towards the successful hosting of the event in Nigeria according the Director, commodities, product inspectorate department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Opelolu Opeewe, who pointed out that the administration of president Mohammudu Buhari is well prepared to reposition the produce for more competitiveness in the global market.

In an interview with Food Farm News in her office about the economic benefit the conference will bring to cocoa development in Nigeria, Mrs Opeewe said that the revival of the produce from its present position was very paramount to the economic diversification from oil using the real sector of agriculture to creating wealth and job by extensive overhauling of the value chains of the produce for better earning for farmers and processors. 

 Mrs Opeewe said that “the first international cocoa summit is coming up in less than a week’s time in Nigeria. Exactly from Monday to Thursday next week, and the main reason for the summit which was initiated by African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK) and International Cocoa Organization (ICO) was to address the dwindling of Nigeria cocoa production that shifted our position from 4^th in the world to 7^th, and also as the processing mills of the produce are all closing down with debt leading to many Nigerians losing their jobs. We are therefore looking for a way to revive the entire cocoa value chains from production, to processing and marketing. We are thanking God that Nigeria cocoa is one of the best in the world in terms of its aroma, as we have not experienced any form of rejection, but presently we want to expand the value chain to local consumption because economically, it will be wiser if we can consume what we produce locally, this will make the price to appreciate in the international market.  So the summit will be bringing every stakeholder to together to have an interface for progress discussions.

She added that “all the cocoa producing states like Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Cross River, Osun and many others are expected to be at the event for round table discussion on finding way to cocoa production in the world. We are determined to take rightful position, because cocoa is contributing to the economic development in this country as it is second in the GDP contribution to the country after services. We want cocoa to maintain the status quo by taking the lead with the availability of large expanse of production and processing that will meet up with consumption as presently, we are only consuming 2% of what we are producing, which is a very bad situation. At our last meeting at Cote’ d’Ivoire , one of the take home decisions by all producing countries is that our people should start consuming cocoa because of its health benefit as it cures many terminal diseases like diabetes. It has been tested and proven that cocoa adds value to our health.”

Responding to the private sector participation at the show, she said: “all of them are going to be present, that is why is being majorly anchored by the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN). Majorly all the farmers will be present as many farmers will be there to talk and listen to best improved methods of farming with better cocoa variety that can fruit within five years,so we can project for the five years, as banks and Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCOM) will be attending so as to see the reason why many of the processing companies they are closing new support. Also international organizations are coming and other producing countries like Canada, Germany, Cote D ‘Ivoire and Ghana etc will come.

Speaking on the economic implication of the conference, Mrs Opeewe, noted that “in totality this is what we can refer to as rebirth of the cocoa along the value chain. A new dimension, a new situation, a problem solving area that as from now and in the next five years we can see what cocoa will contribute to the development of this economy.