Cocoa stakeholders urge Nigerian government to mandate chocolate in schools to grow local demand and revive the cocoa industry’s processing potential

Cocoa operators urge FG to revive Nigeria’s cocoa industry by mandating the local consumption of chocolate, particularly through school feeding programmes.

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The call, renewed by industry leaders under the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), highlights the urgent need to build a local market to complement Nigeria’s export-heavy cocoa economy.

The operators criticised the low domestic consumption of cocoa products despite Nigeria’s position among the world’s top producers of raw cocoa.

According to CAN President Mufutau Abolarinwa, chocolate should become a staple in the diets of Nigerian schoolchildren, beginning from primary to tertiary institutions.

“Chocolate is not widely consumed locally. And we ask, what can the government do to create a chocolate market? It’s simple.

The government should make it mandatory to give chocolate to children of school age,” he said. Abolarinwa believes that early exposure will nurture a future generation of cocoa consumers.

His argument is echoed by CFAN President Adeola Adegoke, who said Nigeria cannot compete globally in chocolate production if it lacks a domestic market.

“If you are producing chocolate and the market of consumption is not in Africa or Nigeria, why do you engage in it?” he asked, noting that the country has strong potential in cocoa production and intermediate processing.

Despite producing more than 280,000 tonnes of cocoa in 2023, Nigeria imports cocoa powder containing sugar worth over ₦4.6 billion, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Most cocoa powder and butter processed locally are exported, with only a small fraction used by beverage, biscuit and ice-cream producers within Nigeria.

Stakeholders blame the poor consumption culture on ignorance of cocoa’s health benefits and the absence of targeted government policies.

Abolarinwa stressed that cocoa-based products such as chocolate are vital for children’s brain development and should be part of the Home Grown School Feeding Programme. “The government should subsidise it for them,” he added, pointing to its long-term value.

Adegoke also urged capacity building through training for women and youth in cocoa-based enterprises. “We can continue to leverage it in terms of making sure to train our children, our youth, our women to be creative, to advocate for consumption,” he said.

The operators acknowledged growth in the cocoa powder market, especially with companies like Cadbury and Nestlé purchasing locally. However, they warned that until Nigeria builds internal consumption, foreign buyers will continue to dictate prices that do not favour producers.

Abolarinwa concluded by saying, “Once they know that you also consume it locally, then they will be begging you to get the product from you.”

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The consensus among operators is clear: without local demand, the cocoa industry’s growth will remain stunted, and its vast economic potential untapped.