“We believe the time has come to breathe life back into our agricultural institutions, starting with the Cocoa Board. This will not only provide direct support to cocoa farmers but will also stimulate rural economies and attract global investment,”
— Rev. Dr. Kayode
In a bold move aimed at revamping Nigeria’s dwindling agricultural sector, the All Progressives Congress Initiative for Good Governance (APC-IGG) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, to consider the immediate re-establishment of the Cocoa Board in the South West region.
The proposal, originally suggested by Rev. Dr. David B. Kayode, JP, a prominent member of APC-IGG, was formally submitted to the Federal Government through Ambassador Musa Muhammed Tsoken, the National President of APC-IGG.
According to the proponents, the revival of the Cocoa Board is central to the realization of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and would help reposition agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, job creation, and diversification from oil dependency.
Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Rev. Dr. Kayode emphasized that the Cocoa Board, which played a crucial role in the economic development of the Western Region in Nigeria’s earlier decades, could once again serve as a catalyst for regional transformation and national prosperity.
“We believe the time has come to breathe life back into our agricultural institutions, starting with the Cocoa Board. This will not only provide direct support to cocoa farmers but will also stimulate rural economies and attract global investment,” Rev. Dr. Kayode said.
The proposal outlines clear objectives, including the creation of jobs across the cocoa value chain, the stimulation of regional development, and the promotion of Nigerian cocoa on the international stage. It further recommends the establishment of a special task force to develop an implementation plan, allocation of funding for infrastructure and support services, and incentives to encourage private sector participation.
Ambassador Tsoken reiterated APC-IGG’s commitment to supporting national development initiatives and expressed confidence that with presidential backing, the proposed Cocoa Board would become a model for agricultural resurgence.
“We are confident that under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria can reclaim its position as a global agricultural powerhouse,” he said.
The proposal has already generated interest among key stakeholders in the agriculture sector, many of whom view the re-establishment of the Cocoa Board as a long-overdue intervention.
As the government continues to prioritize economic diversification, the APC-IGG hopes this proposal will receive swift consideration and action.
