By Oluremi Modupe Rebecca
A delegation from the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has commended the John Vents Group for its innovative approach to cocoa processing during an official industrial visit to the company’s facility in Akure. The visit highlighted both the company’s commitment to full value addition in cocoa production and the broader infrastructural challenges facing Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
The RMRDC team, led by Ondo State Coordinator Mrs. Tejumola, included Principal Scientific Officer Mr. Idowu Akeem and Scientific Officers Mrs. Oluremi Modupe and Mr. Awwal Abdulrosheed. They were received by the Managing Director of John Vents Company, Mrs. Caroline, who shared insights into the company’s operational model and challenges.
Mrs. Caroline expressed regret at missing the recent African Raw Materials Summit due to pressing business operations but reaffirmed the company’s alignment with RMRDC’s vision of promoting indigenous raw material utilization.
John Vents Company distinguishes itself in Nigeria’s cocoa industry by fully processing cocoa beans into finished products, a practice known as 100% value addition. According to Mrs. Caroline, while most local firms achieve around 30% value addition, John Vents transforms cocoa from bean to bar—producing consumer-ready items like Oluji cocoa powder and John Vents 3-in-1 chocolate, targeted primarily at the domestic market.
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“This ensures Nigerian children enjoy the same quality chocolate products often reserved for export markets,” she said.
However, Mrs. Caroline also highlighted the operational hurdles impeding full-scale production. Chief among them is the high cost of electricity, which she said has soared to ₦45 million monthly. Frequent power outages have damaged equipment and forced the company to switch to gas-powered alternatives to maintain production continuity.
In response to questions about raw material sourcing, Mrs. Caroline detailed a backward integration strategy that includes partnerships with cocoa farmers and the operation of a 1,000-hectare cocoa plantation to secure a stable supply chain. She noted that while procurement extends beyond Ondo State, the focus remains on supporting local agricultural ecosystems.
A tour of the factory revealed the company’s capacity to process 50 tons of cocoa beans every 24 hours under a continuous production cycle. This positions John Vents as one of the few companies in Nigeria capable of end-to-end cocoa manufacturing at scale.
Mrs. Tejumola described the visit as timely and informative, praising the company’s commitment to national industrial goals. She noted that John Vents’ model exemplifies how Nigerian firms can add value to raw materials locally, thereby reducing dependency on raw exports.
However, the visit also underscored broader industry concerns such as energy instability, inadequate infrastructure, and limited government incentives for fully integrated manufacturers.
The RMRDC concluded its assessment by emphasizing the need for policies that support local manufacturers undertaking high-value processing, and encouraged further collaboration between public institutions and private sector innovators like John Vents.
