Determined to boost non-oil export and increase the volume of processed cocoa exported from Nigeria, Ogun State Government and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) have trained 100 cocoa farmers and traders in Abeokuta, the State capital.

Speaking during the technical session on Value Chain Export Development (VCED) for Cocoa Practitioners with the theme: "Repositioning Nigeria's Cocoa Beans for Increased Global Competitiveness", Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola, said the shift from agriculture to oil negatively affected the exportation of cocoa in the country, adding that there was  need to enlighten stakeholders, to revive and surpass past achievements through cocoa exports in the 60s.

Aikulola lauded the NEPC for its efforts at boosting non-oil exports, and called on the participants to utilise the knowledge gained to improve their businesses, stressing that the State government had been creating a conducive business environment for entrepreneurs and investors to thrive.

" It is pertinent to note that the current administration has made concerted efforts towards creating relevant policies, initiatives, and programmes for a more robust and enabling environment for businesses to flourish and we are glad that the NEPC is also keying into similar initiatives by organising diverse training programmes and workshops at improving non-oil export in the State", Aikulola said.

In his remarks, the South West Zonal Coordinator, NEPC, Mr. Samuel Oyeyipo, said the training was part of the Council's deliberate efforts at helping stakeholders involved in the cocoa value chain scale up the production, processing, and marketing.

Doing a comparative analysis on the production of cocoa, Oyeyipo said Ghana exports 800,000 metric tonnes annually, Ivory Coast 2 million metric tonnes, while Nigeria produces only 250,000 metric tonnes per annum despite its huge arable land mass and population.

The Chairma, Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter, Mr. Olusesan Sowunmi lauded the NEPC for the training, saying it would impart on farmers and other stakeholders on planting, harvesting, processing, and marketing of their products both locally and internationally.

Iyabo Gbolagbade and Shittu Idris who were beneficiaries, stated that the capacity building would boost their businesses.