In a bid to develop Nigeria’s cocoa industry and fully exploit the potential of the entire value chain to achieve a robust and sustainable cocoa economy, the Lagos state government in partnership with the Eti-Oni Development Group is set to host the maiden edition of the ‘Eko Chocolate Show’.
The main objective of the show is to create awareness to develop the cocoa culture in the country that will build bridges between production and consumption as well as change Nigeria’s cocoa narrative from extractive position to an integrated one with extensive value-add for shared purposes.
“We need to create a culture that understands chocolate because cocoa is a strategic crop that has built several economies of the world,” Dokun Thompson, the Olooni of Eti-Oni and the founder of the Eti-Oni Development Group of Company said during a press briefing.
“Eko Chocolate show will help deepen the chocolate culture and showcase 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.
“Just as we have the Switzerland chocolate and Dutch chocolate, we are bringing in the Nigerian chocolate to the world,” Thompson said.
He appreciated the Lagos state government for giving them the platform to launch the Nigerian chocolate and other sponsors for the event for their support.
Speaking also during the briefing, Olayiwole Onasanya, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture said that the state’s collaboration with the Et-Oni Development Group is a step in the right direction that shows the state’s continuous commitment to the sector.
“Since the state has a comparative advantage in the downstream sector of cocoa production it is our pleasure to support the eko chocolate crusade,” Onasanya who was represented by Aramide Granzalo, director of agric, Lagos State Ministry of Agric. Said.
“The state government wish to commend the efforts of Eti-Oni development group in its efforts in the development of cocoa value chain and its choice of Lagos in this edition,” he said.
According to the organisers, the eko chocolate 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 and 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, the organisers say.
Yetunde Isi Adegbite, strategy and corporate affairs executive, Eti-Oni Development Group said “eko chocolate show will help encourage and attract investments into the country to enhance cocoa production while adding value locally that can add an additional $2 billion to the country’s cocoa economy.”
She stated that Lagos and Osun states will benefit immensely from the eko chocolate show as several job opportunities will be created from the several businesses from cocoa production, chocolate making, retail business opportunities, warehousing, logistics, branding, packaging, tourism, etc and at the same time boost the country’s export drive.
The eko chocolate show is scheduled to take place in Lagos on Sunday 14th April, 2019 at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.
The show will bring together investors, partners, experts, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, traders and buyers and all stakeholders along the supply chain of cocoa and chocolate.
Josephine Okojie
