By Janet Essien and Chioma Onnuka
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing cocoa development in Akwa Ibom State, with a focus on meeting international export standards and enhancing value addition across the cocoa value chain.
The assurance was given at a cocoa roundtable meeting on cluster governance and institutional strengthening organized by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Akwa Ibom State Coordinating Office. The event, held on Tuesday, February 4, 2026, at De-Castle Hotel and Suites Annex, Uyo, convened critical stakeholders spanning production, processing, marketing, and export segments of the cocoa industry.
In his remarks, the NEPC Akwa Ibom State Coordinator, Mr. Idongesit Essien, explained that the forum was designed to consolidate frameworks established in 2025 to ensure the timely development and aggregation of cocoa for export. He observed that in previous seasons, delayed off-take arrangements had hindered coordinated export efforts, as many farmers sold their produce to private buyers before structured export engagements could commence.
He noted that the Council is now prioritizing early engagement with cocoa farmers and relevant stakeholders to strengthen coordination and guarantee the inclusion of members of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) in export development programmes.
You Might AlsoLike
Mr. Essien further highlighted the vast export potential for Nigerian cocoa in markets such as India and China, describing them as high-demand destinations capable of absorbing increased volumes of quality produce. He expressed optimism that with structured governance, improved cluster coordination, and early stakeholder alignment, the cocoa sector in Akwa Ibom State is poised for significant growth.
Speaking at the event, the RMRDC State Coordinator, Mr. Anietie Akpan underscored the strategic importance of cluster formation, cooperative governance, and institutional strengthening in building a resilient cocoa value chain. He emphasized that export competitiveness is anchored on quality assurance, standardization, and value addition.
“Thinking export is thinking quality,” he stated, stressing that cocoa from Akwa Ibom State must attain and sustain premium quality standards to compete effectively in the global market.
Mr. Akan reiterated RMRDC’s statutory mandate to promote the development and optimal utilization of Nigeria’s indigenous raw materials. He noted that beyond primary production, the Council is committed to supporting value addition initiatives such as cocoa processing, grading, packaging, and compliance with international standards to enhance foreign exchange earnings and reduce post-harvest losses.
He further pledged sustained collaboration between RMRDC and NEPC to position Akwa Ibom State as a competitive hub for high-quality cocoa production and export in the near future.
