Guests at the 60th anniversary celebration of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN may not have envisaged that there would be a need for shopping at the venue within the premises of CRIN at Idi Ayunre, Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday. But many of them went away, after satisfying their curiosity, with bye products of cocoa, in particular. At the exhibition stand were bread, chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa wine, chocolate yoghurt and poultry feed. The items are products of various research studies carried out at the institute in recent times.
Little wonder that Dr Patrick Olusanmi Adebola Executive Director, of CRIN, in his welcome address at the event said the institute has been of tremendous support to farmers and the country as a whole. He said, “Our innovations have provided additional income streams for farmers, supported small and medium enterprises, and contributed to the nation’s economic diversifications.”
Truly enough, CRIN has expanded its scope by producing more valuable products from its mandated crops such as cocoa powder, cocoa bread, chocolate, cocoa wine cocoa yoghurt as well as poultry feed.
Yet Dr. Adebola said that the institute is not resting on its oars. But before you ask what innovation the institute has in the offing, the executive director said that it is currently assessing the genetic diversity in Nigerian cocoa using Simple Sequence Repeat, SSR, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism SPN, markers to correct the errors of mislabeling and off-types.
Adebola said; “We have added value to cocoa and created new products for local consumption and export. We have processed cocoa beans into various products such as chocolate, cocoa butter, cocoa powder, cocoa wine, choco-bread, cocoa custard, soy-chocolate, chocolate spread, chocolate yoghurt, amongst others”
The institute under the leadership of Adebola also converted cocoa by-products into liquid soap, black bar soap, body cream, hair cream, body lotion and moisturizer.
He also announced that the institute has added animal feeds into its products; “We have successfully produced poultry feed from cocoa pod husk with 20% maize replacement. These innovations have provided additional income streams for farmers, supported small and medium enterprises, and contributed to the nation’s economic diversifications.”
On infrastructural development, he said the management have repaired the defragmented parts of the institute, renovated the administrative complex to a befitting standard for the first time in a very long time, upgraded website and the internet bandwidth from 4MBOS to 100MBPS, upgraded flavor quality laboratory, construction of fermentary laboratory and perimeter fencing of the institute cum modern gate.
Senator Abubakar Abdullah Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, represented by Akeredolu Olayinka, zonal director of the ministry, commended CRIN for its groundbreaking research and charged the institute to make the results of its findings readily available to the organisations that rely on them while promising continued federal government support for CRIN to realise the dreams of its founding fathers.
“It is noteworthy that 60 years of existence is no mean achievement in the life of an institution, especially one whose contribution to numerous tree crops like cocoa, cashew, kola, coffee, and tea is evidently felt across the length and breadth of our country and beyond. Since its inception in 1964, CRIN has been a major player in contributing to the GDP of our nation”
Prof. O.C Adebooye, Vice-Chancellor, of Osun State University, Osogbo, the guest speaker at the anniversary, represented by Prof. O.C Nwoye, delivered a paper titled “Tree crops research for sustainable Nigerian economy.”
Adebooye said inadequate infrastructure, low capital, and climate change are the challenges confronting agriculture. He, therefore, recommended that Nigeria must prioritise research for development as a vehicle for economic well-being.
He said “Cocoa, cashew, and kola nut are important tree crops that can bring huge economic benefits to the country. However, the country has witnessed a steady decline in the yield of these crops and in the quantity produced annually.
“In a nation with a large population and increasing rates of food insecurity, leveraging tree crops could provide a more resilient economic foundation, supporting both urban and rural communities. This strategy aligns with the government’s agenda to diversify the economy and reduce poverty. By advancing cultivation techniques, improving crop varieties, managing pests, and addressing the effects of climate change, tree crop research serves as a cornerstone of agricultural innovation and sustainability,” he added.
The week-long 60th anniversary ceremony of the institute included Jumat and Church services and the Research Institute Games Association of Nigeria, RIGAN.
The celebration also witnessed cultural display from the University of Ibadan and the Institute’s cultural group , book launch, and presentations of awards of excellence to companies and individuals who have contributed immensely to the growth of the institute and that of the tree crops.
The awardees include President Bola Tinubu, Honourable Minister (and the minister of State) of Agriculture & Food Security, Senator Abubakar Abdullah Kyari, (and Sen. Sabia Abdullahi), Sen. John Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment. Other awardees are Oba Dokun Thomson of Eti Oni, and Dr. Olusegun Awolumate. Chairman , Ondo State Cocoa Council. Corporate awardees are the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, Sunbeth Global Concepts, Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, PIND, Giz Move, Johnvents Group, and Olam Food Ingredients, OFI. Former Directors of the institute honoured are Prof. Lawrence Opeke (posthumous), Samuel Adeyemi (posthumous), Dr. Samuel Olatoye (posthumous), Dr. Adebayo Williams (posthumous), Dr. Ayoola Fashina (posthumous), Prof. Gerald Iremiren, Prof. Malachi Akoroda (posthumous), and Rev. Dr. Olayiwola Olubamiwa as well as Adebola himself.