The iconic Cocoa House Building located at Dugbe, Ibadan, has worn a new look just as its renovated ground floor reception, car park and surroundings were on Thursday commissioned by Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL).
The Cocoa House Building, a 26-story building, is the first skyscraper building in the West Africa, serving as a symbol of the city’s rich cultural heritage and economic importance, built in 1965 by the then Western Region Government, led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
The Cocoa House Building, owned by Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL), originally served as the headquarters of the Western Region’s Ministry of Agriculture, named; “Cocoa House” due to its financing through cocoa revenues, while it was designed by Nigerian architect, Olayiwola Olajide.
The iconic and historic building houses various businesses, including banks, insurance companies, shopping malls and trading firms.
The commissioning event had in attendance Governor Seyi Makinde, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi, who also represented other five South-West state governors, Chairman, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Seye Oyeleye, Board of OICL, OICL subsidiaries and associate companies, among others.