Facelift for 50-year-old Cocoa House

How time flies  It is 50 years already that the historic monument and pride of the Yoruba race – Cocoa House, Ibadan – the first skyscraper in tropical Africa came into being, courtesy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the premier of the defunct Western Region. The Western Regional Government of Action Group (AG), headed […]

How time flies 
It is 50 years already that the historic monument and pride of the Yoruba race – Cocoa House, Ibadan – the first skyscraper in tropical Africa came into being, courtesy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the premier of the defunct Western Region.
The Western Regional Government of Action Group (AG), headed by Awolowo had envisioned the Cocoa House in 1959 or thereabout when the construction work commenced with Cappa and D’Alberto Construction firm as the major contractor.  The edifice, otherwise called ‘Ile Awon Agbe’ (Farmers House) was built with proceeds from cocoa, the mainstay of the Western Region economy at the time.  The 24-storey high-rise structure, property of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, which still stands majestically in the heart of the metropolis was commissioned on 30th July, 1965 by the then Premier of Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, renowned Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.
 Presently, Cocoa House boasts of 70 percent occupancy comprising about 80 corporate tenants including the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE); Tower Aluminium Plc; Odu’a Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Odu’a Telecoms; and DAAR Communications Limited with its AIT and Raypower FM.  The Odu’a Conglomerate, of course, occupies Floors 20 to 23 while the last Floor hosts the Odu’a Hall of Fame and Museum. It could also be noted at this juncture that Odu’a Investment Company Limited has various subsidiary companies including the Wemabod Estates Limited, Cocoa Industries Limited, Askar Paints Limited, Odu’a Printing Press Limited, Epe Plywood Limited, Lagos Airport Hotel, Nigerite, etc, among others proud to have their liaison offices within the Cocoa House.
 Looking at the evolution of Cocoa House with nostalgia, the Group Managing Director of Odu’a Conglomerate, Mr. Adewale Raji maintained that the edifice has paid its due in the socio-economic and political life of Ibadan and the South West of Nigeria as a whole since its inception 50 years ago,  Raji told Daily Trust that Cocoa House has continued to be a symbol of pride for Yoruba Nation being the first skycraper in West Africa. While conceding that the Cocoa House has fulfilled the dream of the founding father. Raji however lamented that no such additional edifices could be pointed to as a succeeding generation.  According to the GMD, the Cocoa House was originally meant to be an inspiration for higher attainments in the Yoruba nation, but it is a matter of concern that succeeding generations have not visibly lived up to the goal.
 While announcing that massive transformation of the Cocoa House is in the offing, Raji promised to restore its socio-economic value in tune with the realities of the millennium.  His words: “I believe we need to enhance the value to be the first choice in Ibadan for office accommodation, business, leisure and entertainment. This we are committed to engender along with the collaboration of the owner state governments, particularly Oyo State government to lift up the Central Business District for business and entertainment. Odu’a Group is poised for a better future to transform over the next five years to a successful business conglomerate that every Yoruba person will be proud of based on its mantra of growth, profitability and sustainability.”
 From all indications, Mr. Raji’s dream may not take too long a time to realize judging by positive response to the investment drive by the host state government of Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi.  Needless repeating the obvious that Oyo State government has been getting positive responses from stakeholders as manifested in the commissioning of Heritage and Cocoa Malls housing the duo of Shoprite and Mr. Price retail stores, a bold initiative which is part of the Property Re-development Programme (PRP) of Odu’a Conglomerate. 
The 1985 fire incident
Unfortunately, tragedy struck the Cocoa House on January 9, 1985 when the building was gutted by fire.  This incident was a big setback for the fast growing Odu’a Investment Company.  It took the owner states of the conglomerate, that is, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and Osun (as they then were), a whole seven years to rehabilitate the edifice and restore it to its present position, after some modifications. And by Monday, August 3, 1992, the rehabilitated Cocoa House was jointly commissioned by the ruling Odu’a Governors – Chief Kolapo Ishola (Oyo); Chief Bamidele Olumilua (Ondo); Chief Olusegun Osoba (Ogun); and Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke (Osun).
 It is worthy of note, however, that the dwindling economic fortunes of the nation has been taking its toll on Cocoa House. Unlike in those days when the skyscraper was fully occupied by corporate organizations and well-meaning people, it was a different story now when the fortunes of Cocoa House started getting brighter following a total overhaul of the generating power supplier, water facilities as well as the installation of brand new lifts for easy connection with the various floors.
Some tenants expressed delight over the noticeable improvement in infrastructural facilities within the property including visitor-friendly rest rooms installed at all the floors by the present management of Odu’a conglomerate. One of the tenants, Mr. Francis Adeyemi, an employee with an insurance company occupying Cocoa House expressed delight at the “pro-active measures put in place by the management for eventualities”. Another tenant, Mr. Adisa Owoeye commended management of Cocoa House for “placing special emphasis on security as manifested in the engagement of a number of security personnel whose presence is always felt within the complex.
A lecturer in the University of Ibadan, Dr. Johnson Oluwole Ajayi  stated with delight that the coming of malls brings back the memory of the good old days of the Kingsway Stores, Leventis, Chellarams and such others in the seventies.
Obviously, the economic outlook of Ibadan has started witnessing a visible change for the better since the grand opening of the Cocoa Mall, strategically located beside Cocoa House.