BRIEF HISTORY OF COCOA FARMERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (CFAN)
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BRIEF HISTORY OF COCOA FARMERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (CFAN)
By Adeola Adegoke
Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) was formed on the 25th November, I999 in Abuja at the International Conference Center.
This was during a Summit of All Commodities Value Chain Associations Representatives in Nigeria called by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to strengthen the Nigeria agricultural farmers institution in order build a resilient agricultural supply chain that will support food security mantra of his administration.
Mr. President challenged farmers leaders’ present at the occasion to take their destiny in their hands by forming a strong and virile association along the commodity lines that could be liken to Soyabeans Farmers Association of America that often contributed to the sponsorship or emerging of any American President at every elections year.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his words at the summit emphasized that a strong farmers institution will make food security achievable through farmers empowerment.
At this summit, many farmers association national leaders were present; Adm.(HE) Muritala Iyako, represented Participating Farmers Association of Nigeria (PFN) then as their National President, late Dr. Moustapha Shetima, former finance Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria and a renowned national farmers leader was present at the event.
One prominent organization that has been representing cocoa after the dissolution of the Cocoa Board in the year 1986 but was registered as a limited organization then was Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN).
CAN was represented by many of their members like Late Chief Olagbaju , who was the pioneer President of CAN in Nigeria, Late Akinwale Ojo, former Executive Secretary of CAN, Late Bola Otunla from Osun State, Late Ajayi; pioneer President of defunct Cocoa Growers Association of Nigeria (COPAN) and others that cannot be mentioned due to space.
CAN Structure then favoured Exporters and buyers who led their leadership and clearly excluded cocoa farmers from key decisions making on cocoa affairs in Nigeria then.
It was very obvious that this lopsided noticed at CAN leadership level led to the formation of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) in order for the farmers to have a unified voice that protect cocoa farmers interest at the national, states and local governments level of operations that transcend to the farm gate.
This was what led to the formation of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) by the cocoa farmers’ representatives across the cocoa communities in Nigeria that was present at the summit.
They came up with a united stand to form a consensus association to represent their interest and to be known as Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria.
At this summit, the present National President of CFAN, Comrade Adeola Adegoke, led the singular action that led to the formation of CFAN at the summit in collaboration with late Senator Bode Olowoporoku of blessed memory, who was the rapatoir appointed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo for cocoa value chain re-organization at the summit, former co- chairman with late Chief Bayo Iyaniwura as the Chairman of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) during the five million dollars ($5million) ICCO returned fund to CAN crisis.
Late Senator (Dr) Bode Olowoporoku later became the first pioneer President of CFAN.
We also had Mr. Joseph Ayodele at summit ground, who was the first pioneer Chairman of CFAN in Ekiti State and Engr. Lanji Akingbulugbe who was an eye witness at the summit venue and later became the first pioneer National Secretary of CFAN.
The first meeting of CFAN was held 2nd February, 2000 at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, Oyo State. Delegation across the cocoa producing States in Nigeria and led by the following leaders, even though some are now late;
Ondo —- Comrade Adeola Adegoke
Cross River State —— Elder Nakanda
Osun ——- Late Adeniji, late Jalad,
Oyo State —— late Elder Ojediji
Ekiti —- Late Senator (Dr) Bode Olowoporoku, Mr. Joseph Ayodele
Kwara —- Late Gbadebo
Abia — Mr. Uche
Akwa Ibom — N/A yet
Kogi — Engr. Jayeola
Ogun — Mrs Abolarinwa
Edo – Mrs Obazee, Alhaji Aminu Yakubu, Late Ezedomi
The Association was eventually registered with CAC in the year 2002 with a registration no: 14584 to the glory of God Almighty.
This history was written by Comrade Adeola Adegoke, National President, Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) & President/ Global Coordinator, Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA).
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