Osun State governor, Gboyega Oyetola, Kwara State First Lady, Chief Abiola Dosumu, Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos, among other dignitaries are billed to grace this year’s Eko Chocolate Show and Royal Cocoa Film Festivals.
The 2022 edition of the events are scheduled to hold between 7 and 11 April 2022.
Speaking in Lagos during a press conference to herald the events, the President Eti-Oni Development Group, Queen Angelique-Monet Gureje Thompson, said the 2022 edition is themed: ‘Our Cocoa, Our Chocolate, Our Climate’.
According to her, Eko Chocolate Show 2022 will be kicked off with a dinner and Nigerian Cocoa Awards on Thursday 7th April 2022 and it is themed: ‘Celebrating Women in Cocoa. First Lady of Kwara State, Dr. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, will be the Special Guest of Honour while the Founder and CEO of Temple Productions, Mrs Nwakaego Boyo, will be the Special Guest Speaker. The evening will be chaired by Erelu Abiola Dosumu, Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos.
On the second day, there will be the Africa Cocoa and Chocolate Forum between 9 am and 2 pm. It is themed: ‘Beyond Cocoa Production Towards Wealth Creation and Achieving Sustainability within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)’.
On the film festival, Queen Gureje disclosed that the Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals (RCIFF) is the first film festival founded by a reigning monarchy and the only film festival in Nigeria hosting two major festivals yearly. They will hold on April 7-11, 2022 in Lagos and November 23-25, 2022 in Eti-Oni, Osun State.
The Royal Cocoa International Film Festivals, Lagos edition will be held over 3 days from Friday 8th to Sunday 10th, April 2022 screening films that are impactful. The film will focus on climate change, family, animation, and drama.
The opening ceremony of the film festivals comes up on Friday 8th April 2022 by 6 pm with a green carpet reception. Executive Governor of Osun State, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, is expected as the Special Guest of Honour and will declare the Festival open.
She disclosed that the festival has made a great impact since it made its debut. “It is about Cocoa Renaissance in the country, to create awareness of the real value of cocoa and the immense opportunities that can open up through moving up the value chain.”
