Nigeria’s renewed focus on reviving its coffee industry is expected to diversify the country’s export base, create jobs and increase foreign exchange earnings, according to the leadership of the Cocoa and Coffee Farmers Alliance Association of Africa.

Speaking ahead of the Cocoa & Coffee Fiesta–Lagos scheduled for October 7–8, 2026, COCEFAAA Global President, Adeola Adegoke, said the Nigeria Coffee Revival Initiative (NCRI) could play a significant role in expanding Nigeria’s agricultural export portfolio while improving livelihoods in rural communities.

Adegoke said the revival programme is expected to generate employment opportunities for young people and women, strengthen farmers’ incomes through diversification, increase foreign exchange earnings and support climate-resilient farming systems.

The Cocoa & Coffee Fiesta will be organized by COCEFAAA in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, cocoa- and coffee-producing states and private-sector stakeholders from across the two industries.

According to Adegoke, the event aims to showcase Africa’s commitment to the long-term sustainability of the cocoa and coffee sectors while highlighting opportunities for investment, value addition and regional cooperation.

He noted that global demand for both commodities is expected to continue growing over the next decade. Industry projections indicate that the global cocoa market could expand from approximately US$169 billion currently to nearly US$246 billion by 2035, while the coffee market could grow from about US$285 billion to more than US$486 billion over the same period.

of cocoa, accounting for around 70 percent of world output. However, the continent contributes only about 12.5 percent of global coffee production despite being the origin of coffee and possessing favourable growing conditions across several countries.

Adegoke commended major cocoa-producing nations including Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria for maintaining production despite market challenges. He also recognized coffee-producing countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Sierra Leone for their contributions to Arabica, Robusta and specialty coffee production.

He said Nigeria’s coffee revival strategy, supported through public-private partnerships and research initiatives, could help reposition the country within the global coffee industry while complementing efforts to increase cocoa productivity through improved soil management and sustainable farming practices.

Beyond production growth, Adegoke emphasized that the initiative could strengthen regional integration among cocoa- and coffee-producing countries in West, Central and East Africa, helping the continent address common economic, social and environmental challenges.

The Lagos event will also mark the official launch of COCEFAAA, which describes itself as the first pan-African membership organization representing cocoa and coffee farmers across the continent.

According to Adegoke, the alliance will focus on promoting sustainable production practices, advocating for fair pricing, improving market access, eliminating child and forced labour from supply chains, supporting youth and women participation, and strengthening climate resilience across both industries.

As global demand for sustainably produced cocoa and coffee continues to rise, stakeholders believe that stronger farmer representation and increased investment in production and value addition could help Africa capture a greater share of the value generated by two of its most important agricultural commodities.