The maiden edition of Eko Chocolate Show has been scheduled to hold in Lagos.
The two-day event which holds between Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 April, 2019 in Lagos, is expected to bring together investors, partners, experts, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, traders and buyers and all stakeholders along the supply chain of cocoa to chocolate.
As at today the value of imported chocolate is about $80million.
The show is being put together by the Eti-Oni Development Group (EDG) in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Agric with the theme: The Making of the Nigerian Chocolate.
According to the traditional ruler of Eti-Oni, Osun State and one of the drivers of the show, “in the long run, the show should help boost the cocoa economy to up to $2 billion and Lagos being a cosmopolitan city with a young trendy population should benefit about 40 per cent of that amount.”
Speaking at the event, the Strategy and Corporate Affairs Executive, Eti-Oni Development Group, Miss Yetunde Adegbite said Eko Chocolate Show would become the biggest show dedicated to chocolate and confectionery in Africa.
According to her, EDG will continue to create awareness to develop the cocoa culture that will build bridges between production and consumption to appreciate the value in the Nigerian cocoa narrative and change it from an extractive position to an integrated one with extensive value-add for shared value purposes.
Adegbite said the show was borne out of the need to put the value back into cocoa and show case different ideas and possibilities by chocolate enthusiasts, cocoa entrepreneurs and consumers who have through their interests and innovation created the Nigerian Chocolate and Eko Chocolate Show is a continuation of the journey in making the Nigerian Chocolate become a world class phenomenon.
Explaining why Lagos was chosen to host the show, Adegbite said, “Lagos being a mega city and one of the most populated cities in the world is well positioned to be the main consumer market and trading centre for chocolate in Africa.
She revealed that “the Eko Chocolate Show will take advantage of the fast development of the Lagos economy and culture and be an annual international and professional platform showcasing chocolate products and its culture which will bridge the innovative and efficient communications between exhibitors and purchasers to build the idea and opportunity to create wealth.
“Eko Chocolate show will further help to deepen the chocolate culture and show case what’s on offer at home and abroad to a wide and diverse audience who want to keep abreast of what is going on in the chocolate and culinary space around the world.”
She also added that the show will create opportunities for chocolate makers, chocolatiers and chefs, as well as equipment and accessory manufacturers, restaurants, dessert and pastry chefs, ingredient suppliers, cosmetics experts, branding/packaging companies, the media and others who use cocoa as the main ingredient or part of their finished products to show case to about 5000 expected visitors in a fun filled and entertaining environment.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agric, Lagos, Dr. Layiwole Onasanya was represented at the event by the Director, Agric Business, Mrs Aramide Gansalo.
Gansalo while commending EDG for its efforts in developing cocoa value chain said the state would support and give enabling environment to the private sector in ensuring that the state remains a full secured place. Since the state has comparative advantage in the downstream sector, value addition, logistic market and produce market, in this case we are talking about chocolate now, so on behalf of the present administration, it is my pleasure to support the group in this crusade.
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