Nigeria: Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State to Enable Cocoa Production for Economic Boost

By Abdul Rahman Bangura-

NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Freetown, Sierra Leone– The governor divulged, Ondo State Administration will rejuvenate cocoa production to assure that; the state maintains its stance as the highest producer of quality cocoa seeds in the Nigeria by enhancing cocoa agriculturalists to drive their products to the global market to earn foreign exchange.

The Governor gave the assertion while playing host to retinue of the Ondo State Cocoa Council led by the Chairman, Dr. Olusegun Awolumate, in his office, in Akure.

Aiyedatiwa, who applauded the leaders and members of the Council on their activities, said before the discovery of oil, cocoa was the mainstay of the economy, especially in the Southwest region of the country.

He remarked: “We will support you and other stakeholders to increase our cocoa production, most especially the one that has to do with growing cocoa outside the forests in which if measures are not taken, will affect the quality of our products in the International market.

“Whatsoever measures we need to take, I promise we will look at them together to make sure the problem is resolved and our product remains the best in the International market.”

The Governor added, the zest of his administration towards the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads to enable the productivity of farmers and produce marketers in the State. Aiyedatiwa exhorted the Council to involve youths in its activities as the government is interested in supporting a new generation of farmers in the State.

Earlier, the Chairman of Ondo State Cocoa Council, Dr. Olusegun Awolumate, said Ondo State has the comparative advantage amongst equals which has consistently served as a major revenue driver to its economic growth.

Awolumate stated that the Council is in partnership with the Ondo office of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) on the establishment of the Cocoa Agropreneurs’ Mentorship Programme (CAMP) to attract and retain a successor generation of youthful Cocoa farmers.

He said about 50 students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure (FECA) and Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) are currently involved in the pilot stage of the programme.

New Africa Daily News Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports, Africa Correspondent