The Cocoa farmers Association of Nigeria CFAN, has re-elected Mr Adeola Adegoke as its National President to run the affairs of the association for the next four years.
The election which took place at its national Secretariat in Akure on Thursday 18, 2023 has not more than 12 other elected officers from the six cocoa producing states in Nigeria.
Making his acceptance speech, Adegoke expressed the determination of the new leadership to positively affect the lives of cocoa farmers across the six cocoa producing states.
“We shall lead you well to make sure that there is no division in all the producing states, bearing in mind of the political, cultural, ethnic, state, geographical differences, but with the same challenges that spur us to establish the association.
“I promised to protect your interest to work in unity for the benefit of our members,” he said .
He stated that the association will work with Tinubu-led administration to revamp cocoa production to make Nigeria the leading producer of the crop in the world.
Adegoke stated that the association is going to push for a board that will start to develop Cocoa and bring policy to ensure that farmers are provided with the necessary inputs that can bring back the lost glory of Cocoa to Nigeria.
” The Agenda of this association in the next two to three years is for us to be the highest cocoa producing country and to increase our produ tivity per hectare,”
” So one of the agenda is to work with the government to make sure that the National cocoa management committee put in place by the outgoing government is solidified and produce the enabling National Assembly that would spout the regulations and development of the cocoa economy of farmers and the nation at large.
This, Adegoke said will bring back more investment in the sector, bring back extensions, strengthen the extension arms of supporting the farmers, strengthen the research system and making available and affordable inputs for farmers.
Observing that the investment in rice , cassava and other commodities are not commensurable from what is got from cocoa, Adegoke stated that investment from cocoa still remains the highest in the country.
He said the association also wants to work with the incoming government to bring regulations, expressing that they do not want the total deregulation of cocoa economy.
” It is not acceptable because farmers have been cheated, the quality has been down and the productivity, production have been down and farmers are not actually encouraged.”, he said.
The Elected National Secretary of the Association, Mr Agbor Bassey in a chat with journalists, said there are lots of prospects in cocoa production which he said could improve the economy of farmers and the state.
He charged youths , particularly those who are in search of white colar jobs to go into farming because government cannot provide job for every body.
Bassey appreciated the privilege given him as the National Secretary which he said is an encouragement to the young people and promise to put in his best into the industry for a better Nigeria.
From the list of elected officers contained in a document signed by three members of the electorial committee, Dr. S T William, Mr Tiamiyu Musa and Mr Lateef Agbaje where all emerged unopposed included : Elder Olagunju Aina as Deputy President from Kwara state, Elube Ogigbo Joel as Treasurer from Ogun state, Oloyede Ezekiel as Financial Secretary from Kwara and Deacon Makanjuola Akinyele , the PR.O from Ekiti state.
Alhaja Sarafat Ife Oluyemi the Organising Secretary from Oyo state, Qazeem Tijani, Auditor 11 from Edo state, Ayeni Iyabo Assistant Secretary from Ondo and Raji Sarafa Ariyo assistant Financial secretary from Oyo.
Also pastor Uche Mmeregini assistant organising secretary from Abia state and Raji Musa Akanni Auditor 1 from Sound state are all returned unopposed
