Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will lead stakeholders in agriculture to discuss ways to boost cocoa value chain at 2022 National Cocoa Festival at Akure, Ondo State, on October 13.
The festival is organised by Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAN), in collaboration with Ondo State CAN, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Harvestfield Industry, Cocoa Research Institute, Ondo State Cocoa Council, and Ooni of Ife Outreach.
The theme: ‘Stakeholders’ Collaboration to Make Nigeria Cocoa Industry Sustainable,’ is to be anchored by Professor Oguntade of Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA).
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Muhammad Abubakar; Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Niyi Adebayo; Managing Director of Starlink Global and Ideal Limited, Adeyemi Adeniji, will speak on repositioning cocoa to boost revenue at state and federal levels.
The association, in a statement in Abuja, noted that the Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu would be honoured at the event, while the Ooni of Ife would receive an investiture at the festival.
It said the Managing Director of Harvestfield Industries Prince Martins Awofisayo would give the keynote address.
The statement noted there would be a launching of Yoruba version of Cocoa GAP Handbook and launching of the establishment of Cocoa Academy Centre at the event.
It reads: “The event will also have in attendance commissioners for agriculture of cocoa-producing states, directors of production of cocoa producing states, representatives of cocoa exporters and representatives of cocoa stakeholders in Diaspora.
“Others include national president of Confederation of Commodities Association of Nigeria, President of CAN and members, national president of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, and International Cocoa Sustainability Stakeholders.
“Organisations expected at the event include Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), and Bank of Agriculture”.