Odu’a Investment Company Limited has sealed a N10 billion cocoa agreement with Africa’s largest cocoa exporter, signalling a renewed commitment to agriculture as the backbone of the economy.
Group Chairman, Bimbo Ashiru, announced the deal at the grand finale of Cocoa House’s 60th anniversary in Ibadan on Tuesday, stressing that the company’s future direction would prioritise cocoa and cassava.
“I am happy to tell you that on the day of our AGM, we signed a deal worth over N10 billion with the largest cocoa exporter in Africa. Our focus is now on agriculture – cocoa and cassava,” Ashiru declared.
He further challenged South-West governors to immortalise agricultural legacies by creating monuments such as Cassava House, Timber House, and Rubber House, saying it was time to revive the old glory of the region’s agrarian wealth.
Reflecting on Cocoa House’s enduring significance, Ashiru praised the foresight of the founding fathers whose vision has continued to yield prosperity. “This diamond jubilee is proof that the stewardship of many shareholders, boards, management, and staff has borne fruit. Today, I must say thank you,” he said.
In his remarks, Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Abdulrahman Yinusa, described Cocoa House as more than a building, but a dream nurtured by farmers and visionary leaders.
“In 1965, under the golden leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and commissioned by Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Cocoa House rose from the rich proceeds of cocoa to become West Africa’s first skyscraper,” Yinusa recalled.
On her part, Former Minister of Trade and Investment, Chief (Mrs) Onikepo Akande, hailed Cocoa House as “a symbol of resilience” and a lasting testament to the hard work and vision of the forefathers, while DAWN Commission Chairman, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, called for continuity in governance, noting that Cocoa House would not exist today if leadership had abandoned inherited projects.
Meanwhile, dignitaries at the celebration included representatives of the South-West governors of Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Lagos states, alongside industry leaders and stakeholders who gathered to honour six decades of agricultural and economic heritage.
