NACOPPMAN inaugurates Ebonyi Excos, wins CBN, state govt partnership

BY VICTOR NWEGEDE


The central leadership of the National Association of Coconut Producers, Processors and Marketers of Nigeria (NACOPPMAN) on Thursday in Abakaliki inaugurated the Ebonyi State Executive Members of the Asssociation.


The inauguration was conducted by the National President of the NACOPPMAN, Mrs Okoroji Nma Ikechukwu, being accompanied by the South East Vice President of the Asssociation, Pastor Elvis Oliver Okolie, the Enugu State Coordinator -  Mrs Lizzy Bright and other officials.

The newly inaugurated State Executives included Lolo Nkechinyere Nwosibe - Chairperson, Mr Emmanuel Maria Obele - Vice Chairman, Prince Charles Alagba - General Secretary, Mrs Aisha Isa Nwachi - Assistant Secretary, Mrs Soromtochukwu  - Treasurer, Mr Onuoha Azuka Davidson - Financial Secretary, Dr Onwe Francis - Organising Secretary, Okwo Chukwuma - Assistant Financial Secretary and Paschal Nkuma - Publicity Secretary.

In her keynote address, the National President of the NACOPPMAN, Mrs Okoroji Nma Okechukwu congratulated the state executives, describing the occasion as a historic, as in her words; it was the Association's maiden Ebonyi State Chapter election and awareness campaign with the team actualizing coconut sufficiency in Nigeria (Actualizing COSIN). 

She also appreciated Governor David Nweze Umahi for the practical achivement  of Agricultural development in Ebonyi State through the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

"Our profound gratitude to the newly elected NACOPPMAN Executives in Ebonyi State, visionary and passionately led by Lolo Nkechinyere Nwosibe. You have today demonstrated a well deserving leadership role by ensuring that the requirement by the state chapter election is achieved and establishment of the one hectare NACOPPMAN COSIN plantation in your state.


"Leadership is a great responsibility and not a title. We pray God will give you a focused, united heart and a sensible of responsibility to position Ebonyi State in a global map through the coconut by actualizination of COSIN.



"We appreciate Governor David Nweze Umahi for the Agricultural development in Ebonyi State. Significantly, we express our gratitude to the State Commissioner for Agriculture Chief Moses Ogodo Ali ably represented by Chima-Nsi Arua, Ebonyi State for giving us the one hectare land space for the NACOPPMAN COSIN plantation and 10 hectares in all the local government areas in the state for our proposed plantation. This will create job opportunities for our women and youth, wealth creation and income generation," she said.

The President explained that the National Coconut Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NACOPPMAN) is the apex body to coordinate, nurture, promote the growth and economic development of the coconut value chain in the country and globally.


She added that NACOPPMAN was envisioned by the Coconut Stakeholders across Nigeria, midwife by the Commodity and Export Department (CED), Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment with the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN) in furtherance of the interest and commitment of the government's relentless pursuit for a better Nigeria through Agriculture.


Mrs Okoroji noted that the legal status of the association was never in doubt.

According to her, "NACOPPMAN was incorporated at the CAC on the 6th of August, 2019 as a legal entity and was officially launched and respectively presented as a national association by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja at Also Rock View Hotel, Wise 2, Abuja, with vision to become the largest producers of coconut in Africa by the year 2030 and to develop globally competitive coconut industries all over the country at large.

"NACOPPMAN vision is summed by the acronym - COSIN, to-wit; Coconut Sufficiency in Nigeria, this vision is envisaged to be actualized as at 31st December, 2027.


"Our Mission is to rebrand and reposition coconut value Chain as an occupation of Choice all over Nigeria. We believe that our ability to achieve our vision  above rooted in our core values which are; commitment, passion, consistency, teamwork and continuous improvement. The envisaged NACOPPMAN mission is drawn up to actualize its vision above on a road map of modifying the establishment of 10,000 hectares (two million coconut trees) of coconut plantations and to develop its robust value chain activities in each of the 36 states of the Federation and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Emphasizing on the importance of coconut industry in Nigeria, the President said: "For the want of a compressed execute summary, it's safe to say that the derivatives of the coconut industry have an inelastic value chain that trescends employment, family economic empowerment, medical industry, furniture, domestic kits, fashion kits, national income to boost Gross Domestic Product. The coconut industry has the potentials to generate income even greater than crude oil earning. The multi-dimensional depth of the produce is overwhelming. Over 200 products can be derived from the coconut and each can be a stand alone industry on its own.


"With the way many are becoming conscious of the economic potentials of coconut, the demand will be getting higher. The key thing will be attracting more coconut pruners or investors in the production, processing, commercialization and utilization. The crop can really play a significant role in the economic development of the states of our dear country, Nigeria."


She described coconut as a miracle tree to life and a cash crop which grows 30 states in the country with Lagos and Akwa-Ibom having the largest production area, but Tanzania ranks highest in Africa while at world level, Indonesia and Philippines are on the lead as Nigeria falls in the 18th position worldwide..

She adjudged that the critical point has necessitated the flag off of the 2021 coconut planting season, aimed at actualizination of coconut sufficiency in Nigeria (COSIN) through establishment of coconut tree planting, establishment of 10,000 square meters of coconut farms in all coconut viable states and one family three coconut trees initiative.

On his part, the South East Vice President of NACOPPMAN, Pastor Elvis Oliver Okolie who dissolved the state Caretaker Committee leadership before the election and subsequently followed by the inauguration of the newly elected officials, warned against factions and any form of crises among their members in Ebonyi State.

He commended the conduct of the members of NACOPPMAN in the state, saying that they have shown high sense of decorum in piloting their affairs and urged them to work hard in order to take Association to a greater heights.


He equally appreciated the support of the state government for providing  one hectare land space for the NACOPPMAN COSIN plantation and 10 hectares in all the local government areas in the state for the proposed plantation and described the gesture as an exemplary step towards creating job opportunities, wealth creation and income generation.

In her acceptance speech, the Chairperson of NACOPPMAN in Ebonyi State, Lolo Nkechinyere Nwosibe thanked the National leadership of the Asssociation and commended the support of all the members in ensuring the success of the election.


Lolo Nwosibe pledged to embark on awareness campaign, sensitization and capacity building for youths and women, also to ensure availability of quality seedlings to achieve the vision of one family, three coconut trees, planting of coconut trees at schools, road sides, farms, both in public and private premises in the state.


She solicited the support of partners and stakeholders to actualize the visions, noting that coconut is one of the most viable trees that can be planted in Ebonyi State in line with the tree planting policy of Governor David Umahi's led administration.



She applauded the governor for the practical achievement of Agricultural development in the state, and the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Moses Ogodo Ali for giving one hectare of demonstrating land at Ebonyi State Integrated Farm Hatchery Road Abakaliki for the NACOPPMAN COSIN plantation and approved 10 hectares in all the local government areas in the state for the expansion of the proposed plantation.


The Chairperson enumerated the benefits of coconut, saying that; "one coconut tree can produced up to 60 years and above with 108 byproducts within the maturity period of three years.
One hectare of coconut farm can generate up to three million Naira annually even though other crops such as maize, potatoes, etc can be still planted on the same land."


She however, pleaded with the partners  including CBN, NIRSAL microfinance Bank, Bank of Agriculture, BANK of Industry (BOI), State Government, Local Government Chairmen, among others to help them with incentives.

Meanwhile, the representative of the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Chima-Nsi Arua has assured the Asssociation of the state government's continuous assistance and advised the general public to avail themselves to the opportunity by planting coconut in considering its numerous benefits.


Also, Mr Daniel Ogbogu from Development Finance Office (DFO) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ably represented by Mrs Ezzine Okereke has pledged the bank's partnership with the Association.

Ogbogu further urged the members of the Association to be working together with the National leadership of the Association by providing them with the required information when seeking financial intervention and always apply for affordable fund to sustain their business.

The Patron of the Asssociation and former Chief of Staff in the state, Chief Emmanuel Ofor Okorie, equally advised the members of the Asssociation and general public to utilize the opportunity by embracing the culture of boosting the coconut sufficiency in Nigeria in considering its benefits.