August 14, 2025
By Ayinde Adeleke
The Think Yorùbá First (TYF) movement joined prominent Yorùbá leaders, policymakers, and cultural advocates in Ibadan to mark the 60th anniversary of Cocoa House, West Africa’s first skyscraper and a towering symbol of Yorùbá ingenuity and agricultural prosperity.
The event, organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission in collaboration with Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL), formed part of the landmark Yorùbá Historical Conversation series. This special edition focused on the theme Transforming Resources into Lasting Legacies, drawing lessons from the Cocoa House story for the future of the Yorùbá Nation.
In attendance were the Director-General of DAWN Commission, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, and the Group Managing Director of OICL, Mr. Abdulrahman Yinusa, alongside traditional rulers, policymakers, academics, and members of civil society.
TYF representatives joined in the deliberations, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to promoting Yorùbá unity, cultural preservation, and socio-economic advancement. The movement noted that Cocoa House — completed in 1964 and commissioned in 1965 from proceeds of cocoa exports — remains a powerful reminder of the prosperity achievable through vision, prudent resource management, and collective will.
TYF representatives praised the organisers for hosting a conversation that connects history with the present challenges of governance and development, stressing that the Yorùbá nation must harness its human and natural resources for sustainable progress.
The anniversary was also marked by cultural performances, a commemorative balloon release, and the screening of a documentary chronicling Cocoa House’s history, restoration, and enduring relevance.
As Cocoa House turns 60, TYF reiterated its call for renewed vision and purposeful leadership across Yorùbáland to build enduring legacies for future generations.
