The Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL) on Tuesday held the grand finale of activities marking the Diamond Jubilee of Cocoa House, Ibadan, 60 years after its commissioning as West Africa’s first skyscraper.
The commemorative event, held at the iconic building, attracted dignitaries, business leaders, government representatives, and descendants of Yoruba statesmen whose vision birthed the edifice. Among them were grandchildren of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, including Akinwumi Akintola, who joined others in celebrating the legacy of their forebears.
In his welcome address, the Group Managing Director of OICL, Mr. Abdulrahman Yinusa, described Cocoa House as “more than a building,” calling it a statement of the vision and enterprise of the Yoruba nation. He recalled its construction in 1965 from proceeds of cocoa under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and its commissioning by Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola.
“Cocoa House is our talking drum – it calls us to remember who we are. She is our oríkì in stone and glass, telling the world of a people who could plant cocoa and harvest skyscrapers,” Yinusa said. He noted recent upgrades to the building, including a modernized reception area, improved parking, and enhanced surroundings, stressing OICL’s resolve to blend preservation with modernization.
Group Chairman of OICL, Otunba ‘Bimbo Ashiru, also reflected on Cocoa House’s resilience, recalling the devastating fire of January 9, 1985, that claimed lives and nearly destroyed the edifice. Its restoration, he said, was “an act of defiance” that reflected the indomitable spirit of the Yoruba people.
“Cocoa House, at 60 years old, is not just a building we work in; it is a living, breathing chapter of our collective story as a people,” Ashiru said. He commended shareholders, past and present boards, management, and partners for sustaining the landmark, while reiterating OICL’s commitment to repositioning the skyscraper as a modern business hub.
The ceremony featured the premiere of a Cocoa House documentary, goodwill messages from the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, the South West Development Commission, and shareholder states. Secretaries to the governments of Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, and Osun States, in separate messages, lauded the foresight of the founding fathers and praised the management for preserving their legacies.
A panel session on “The Evolution of High-Rise Buildings in Nigeria,” moderated by Architect Femi Agboola of FMA Architects Limited, brought together industry experts to examine the architectural and economic significance of skyscrapers in the country.
Commissioned as the tallest building in tropical Africa in 1965, Cocoa House remains an enduring symbol of enterprise, resilience, and cultural pride for the Yoruba nation and Nigeria at large.
