The Group Chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL), Mr Bimbo Ashiru, has described the Cocoa House, the conglomerate’s headquarters, as a monument of vision, prosperity, and resilience.
Ashiru stated this at the grand finale of the diamond jubilee celebration of the 26-storey Cocoa House building, in Ibadan on Tuesday.
The chairman recalled that the edifice, completed in 1965 during the height of Nigeria’s cocoa boom, symbolised the foresight of leaders of the old Western Region and the ability of Africans to “design, finance and build to world-class standards.
“Cocoa House, then the tallest building in tropical Africa, was a towering proof that the sweat of cocoa farmers in the West could be transformed into prosperity and modernity,” Ashiru said.
He said that building was more than a structure, “but a living, breathing chapter of our collective story as a people.
“We are committed to making 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.
However, the Cocoa building’s history was not without setbacks, the chairman said, recalling the fire incident on Jan. 9, 1985, which claimed lives and devastated families.
“Today, as part of this celebration, we pause to honour those who perished that day. Their sacrifice is forever woven into the legacy of this building,” he said.
According to Ashiru, the eventual rehabilitation of the building after the inferno was “an act of defiance and resilience.”
He said that Cocoa House had since remained a hub for commerce and heritage under the stewardship of OICL.
Also, the Group Managing Director, OICL, Mr Abdulrahman Yinusa, said the building stood as “our oríkì (panegyric) in stone and glass, telling the world of a people who could plant cocoa and harvest skyscrapers.”
He recalled that Cocoa House, commissioned in 1965 under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, was more than just a structure.
Yinusa said it was “a declaration to the world that the Yoruba nation understood enterprise and valued excellence.”
The GMD further disclosed that in 2024, OICL undertook upgrades to preserve the relevance of the edifice, modernising its reception, parking, and surroundings to make it more attractive to tenants, tourists, and visitors.
“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,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Odu’a Foundation, Chief Onikepo Akande, described the Cocoa House as “a beacon of economic and agricultural prosperity” and a proud symbol of resilience.“ Over the past 60 years, Cocoa House has stood tall as a testament to vision, hard work and dedication.
“This anniversary is not just about a building but about the collective journey and achievements of generations who sustained it,” she said.
Akande, the first female Minister in Nigeria, commended the management of OICL, its partners and the people of the South-West for ensuring that Cocoa House remained a vibrant part of Nigeria’s economic and cultural landscape.
“With visionary leadership and strategic management, legacies like Cocoa House will continue to deliver lasting impact for generations to come,” she said.
The celebration, held at Cocoa House premises, drew shareholders, government officials, traditional rulers, business leaders and cultural custodians, who joined to commemorate what many described as the “Pride of the West.”
The event attracted OICL shareholders represented by secretaries to the governments of Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos states; directors; business partners; tenants, among other dignitaries.
