The Global President of the Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COCEFAAA), Comrade Adeola Adegoke, has stated that Nigeria's commitment to reviving coffee production through the Nigeria Coffee Revival Initiative (NCRI) will significantly expand the nation's export portfolio. This initiative is expected to create employment opportunities for youth and women, increase foreign exchange earnings, deepen rural prosperity, and support farmers' income through diversification and climate resilience strategies.
Cocoa & Coffee Fiesta 2026
Adegoke made these remarks while announcing the planned Cocoa & Coffee Fiesta – Lagos, scheduled for October 7 and 8, 2026. The event will highlight Africa's strength and commitment to the sustainability of cocoa and coffee across origin countries. The fiesta is being organized by COCEFAAA in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), cocoa and coffee producing states, and other private partners both locally and globally.
Economic Impact and Africa's Role
According to Adegoke, the cocoa and coffee sectors are projected to grow from their current values of $169.12 billion and $284.8 billion to $245.97 billion and $486.2 billion respectively by 2035. Africa accounts for about 70 percent of global cocoa production but only 12.5 percent of coffee production. COCEFAAA acknowledges the resilience of cocoa-producing countries like Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria, as well as coffee producers such as Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Congo, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone.
The fiesta will showcase Nigeria's dedication to coffee revival through NCRI, public-private partnerships, and integrated soil management approaches supported by donor partners. Adegoke emphasized that the event will foster regional integration and coordination among West, Central, and East African countries to address socio-economic and environmental challenges. A unified African alliance in cocoa and coffee will protect farmers and value chain actors' investments.
Stakeholder Participation and COCEFAAA Launch
Stakeholders from within and beyond Africa, along with global partners in the cocoa and coffee industries, are expected to attend the fiesta. The event will also serve as the official launch of COCEFAAA, the first pan-African membership organization for cocoa and coffee farmers. Adegoke noted that Africa has shown resilience in sustaining cocoa and coffee value chains despite decades of price volatility, which has hindered development and caused unstable livelihoods for farmers.
COCEFAAA aims to amplify African farmers' voices, strengthen sustainable production practices, demand fair pricing, improve market access, eradicate child and forced labor, empower youth and women, and drive climate resilience through strategic collaborations. The organization will mobilize farmers to adopt good pre- and post-harvest practices to ensure premium, deforestation-free cocoa and coffee sectors.
