Governor Adeleke outlined Osun Cocoa potentials, met chocolate producers, other stakeholders in UK | Southwest First Alert Magazine
Towards the close of February 2024, the executive Governor of Osun State, Sen. (Dr.) Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke has enumerated Osun’s potentials in Cocoa production in the United Kingdom.
The Governor also used the opportunity to urge investors to tap into the potentials of cocoa in the state, saying that his administration is already taking steps in addressing past challenges that stunted the growth of the sector.
The working visit to the British House of Parliament by the Governor’s team was facilitated by the Director, African Desk for Lord JD Waverley, House of Lords, Dr. Ayobami Oyedare (PhD).
Others include setting up a domestic export terminal in Osun state to ease the export process and access to the international market; partnering with the Nigerian Railway Corporation for easy transport; upgrading local infrastructures for the farming community; setting up a modified commodity boards to strengthen stakeholders’ finance; develop a partnership with financial institutions to support the cocoa farming community.
The Governor also listed the development of a relationship with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for agricultural technology and innovations; and the establishment of a strong partnership with the Cocoa Research Institute for partnership and collaboration engagement.
Describing his cocoa plan as very ambitious, Governor Adeleke said his administration’s strategies to resuscitate the State-owned cocoa processing industry at Ede for value chain addition; link the cocoa revival plan with the climate agenda, establish
cottage cocoa factories across the state under an industry cluster agenda among others.
The Governor called on “our business friends in the United Kingdom and Europe as well as North America to partner with us for mutual interest in the cocoa sector. We are widely open to investors who are interested in the value chain of the cocoa sector as well as shareholding in the existing cocoa ventures.
“Your coming to Osun is assured to be very rewarding for many reasons. Our government has enhanced the ease of doing business through an end to multiple taxation facilitation of access to land and simplification of the approval system.
“We are open to supporting government to government, government to business, business to business arrangements. We are a willing partner and my team is here to negotiate deals and partnership”, the Governor assured the cocoa conference.
The Governor’s speech at the launch of Gureje lV luxury chocolate which is byproduct of the cocoa grown in Eti Oni in Osun State was powerful and was applauded.
The Governor’s entourage included the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Hon. Bamikole Omishore.
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