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Bimbo Ashiru, group chairman of Odua Investment Company Limited has said that the conglomerate is committed to making the Cocoa House not just a monument to the past, but a hub for the future—integrating modern infrastructure, sustainable practices, and cutting-edge facilities, while preserving its soul.
Ashiru, while speaking at the grand finale of the 60th of the anniversary monument held at the Cocoa House premises, said Cocoa House remained a living chapter of the Yoruba story, representing resilience, modernity, and economic strength.
“We have been reminded that Cocoa House was not born of chance. It was born of vision. In the early 1960s, at the very height of Nigeria’s cocoa boom, the leaders of the Western Region dared to dream of a commercial tower that would stand as a symbol of prosperity and modernity.
“That dream became reality in 1965, when this 26-storey masterpiece opened its doors—then the tallest building in tropical Africa. Imagine the excitement of that time: a post-independence Nigeria, with cocoa farmers in the West watching as the proceeds of their labour were turned into this towering proof that Africa could design, finance, and build to world-class standards.
“So at 60, it is not slowing down; it is standing taller than ever, calling us to match its resilience with our own. So, the House, at 60 years old, is not just a building we work in; it is a living, breathing chapter of our collective story as a people,”.
Recalling the tragic inferno of January 9, 1985, which claimed lives and devastated the building, the group chairman stated that its rehabilitation was a symbol of defiance and resilience.
“But history, as we know, is not a straight road. The story of Cocoa House took a tragic turn on January 9, 1985, when fire swept through the building. Lives were lost. Families were shattered. And for many, it felt like the heart of Ibadan itself had been wounded.
Today, as part of this celebration, we pause to honour those who perished that day. Let us remember them not only with sorrow, but with the knowledge that their sacrifice is forever woven into the fabric of this building’s legacy. May their souls rest in perfect peace.
“The inferno could have been the end of Cocoa House. But just as our forebears built it with courage, so too did the generation after rise with resilience. Step by step, brick by brick, the building was rehabilitated and restored to life, and once again open for business. That restoration was more than construction work; it was an act of defiance, a statement that we will not be defined by our setbacks, but by our comebacks.
“Since then, Odu’a Investment Company Limited has been custodian of this legacy, preserving its historic value, keeping it functional for tenants and partners, and gradually modernizing it to meet new demands but assured that the current board would continue to preserve Cocoa House as both a historic landmark and a modern hub of enterprise.
Ashiru however expressed appreciation to shareholders, boards, management teams, business partners, and tenants for their collective stewardship, stressing that the diamond jubilee was a testament to their commitment.
Abdulrahman Yinusa, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of OICL,described the skyscraper as “a statement of vision, enterprise, and excellence” that has endured since its commissioning in 1965.
He recalled that the edifice, built from cocoa proceeds under the leadership of Obafemi Awolowo and commissioned by Samuel Ladoke Akintola, symbolised the foresight and prosperity of the Yoruba nation.
“Cocoa House is our talking drum, it calls us to remember who we are. She is our oríkì in stone and glass, telling the world of a people who could plant cocoa and harvest skyscrapers,” Yinusa said.
Highlighting the month-long activities, the GMD noted that the celebrations featured a symbolic balloon release on July 30, a guest lecture in collaboration with DAWN Commission, a health walk and charity visit, a youth hangout, and an Open House that gave free access to the Odu’a Museum and Hall of Fame.
Yinusa reaffirmed Odu’a’s commitment to modernising Cocoa House with upgraded facilities, saying: “As we celebrate 60 years, may this monument remind us that discipline, vision, and unity can transform even the humblest seed into a landmark that towers above the skyline for generations.”
Onikepo Akande,former Minister of Industry,in her goodwill message described Cocoa House as a symbol of economic and agricultural prosperity.
While saying that it was the first high-rise building in Nigeria and retained that record for 14 years stated that “it is a celebration of resilience. This anniversary is a celebration of a collective journey and of the legacy we can build. With visionary leadership, legacies like Cocoa House can continue to inspire future generations,”.
Adewale Raji, the immediate past Group managing director of Odua investment while congratulating the board, management, and staff of the organisation for sustaining the legacy for 60 years noted “we celebrate a lot of courage and innovation. I wish the organisation another 60 years of sustaining the legacy of our forebears,”.
Seye Oyeleye, the Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission in his good will message emphasised that the region must be at the forefront of Nigeria’s development.
