By Obot Eteng
Recognizing coffee’s transformative potential as an economic catalyst, Cross River State Coordinating Office organized a groundbreaking Coffee Stakeholders’ Investment Forum at the Government House Conference Centre, Calabar, on Tuesday, October 21st, 2025.
The forum brought together farmers, processors, marketers, policymakers, and investors to share best practices in production, processing, and marketing, and to examine policy frameworks, challenges, and opportunities in the sector.
Delivering a welcome address on behalf of the DG/CEO RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, the Overseeing Director, State Industrial Extension Services Department, Dr. Obi Edith, emphasized coffee’s strategic importance to Cross River’s economy by articulating a comprehensive vision that positions coffee cultivation as a transformative catalyst for the state’s economic diversification and sustainable development agenda. Her remarks established the forum’s foundation by highlighting how coffee represents far more than a traditional agricultural commodity.
The keynote address was presented by the Honorable Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, He outlined the effort of the state at expanding coffee cultivation and processing through policy support, infrastructure development, and capacity building.
You Might AlsoLike
While also declaring the event open The Honorable Commissioner for Commerce, Dr. Abigail Duke, urged stakeholders to engage constructively to unlock growth across the value chain.
The RMRDC Cross River State Coordinator, Mr. Obot Anozeng Eteng, highlighted the sector’s potential for job creation and revenue generation, noting the advantage of the state’s favorable climate and soils for high coffee yield.
He observed that coffee is one major focus area of His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu. Mr. Obot noted that the state government is actively working to create an attractive investment climate, leveraging Cross River’s favorable climate and soil conditions for coffee cultivation.
The stakeholders at the event urged for partnerships among critical stakeholders to advance coffee development and aid distribution of coffee seedlings, which will help scale up production.
