Hi there,

Happy weekend.

On Wednesday, we shared the story of the groundnut pyramids which have all but gone. This week, we tell the story of a monument that still stands proud against the Ibadan sky.

It is the story of Cocoa House, Nigeria's and West Africa's first skyscraper.

Rising 26 storeys above the bustling Dugbe market, this architectural marvel continues to dominate the skyline as it has since 1965. Born from the vision of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and fellow luminaries of Western Nigeria, this tower was originally called "Ile Awon Agbe" or the House of Farmers and later, Cocoa House as it was built entirely with proceeds from the labours of countless cocoa farmers.

In 1985, flames nearly destroyed this iconic building when fire ravaged its upper floors. Yet like Nigeria itself, it refused to fall. Rehabilitated, redesigned to resemble a cocoa pod and later reopened, it continues its silent vigil over Ibadan and all of Yorubaland, though now with peeling paint and temperamental elevators.

Its very existence continues to challenge the notion that Nigeria's greatness could only come from beneath the soil in barrels of crude oil.

This week, we invite you to journey with us through the remarkable story of Cocoa House. We trace its story from the minds of those who envisioned and built it, its glory days as the pinnacle of West African architecture to its current state as a beautiful but neglected icon of the agricultural heritage of Yoruba people and all Nigeria.

Join us as we explore what this landmark tells us about our past ambitions and what it might suggest about our future possibilities.

Looking skyward with you,

The SimplVest Team.

Cocoa House: The Story of Nigeria’s First Skyscraper

At 26 storeys tall, Cocoa House was the first ever skyscraper built in West Africa. It paid homage to thousands of Cocoa Farmers whose labours had built the Western Region of Nigeria’s First Republic. It embodied Western Nigeria’s self-determination, economic vision and the tangible fruits of agricultural prosperity.

Unlike the groundnut pyramids of the Northern region that have long disappeared, Cocoa House still stands but in disrepair. But it stands nonetheless, to the memory of those who built it as the symbol of the economic aspirations of Western Nigeria.

👉 Full Story here: Cocoa House: The Story of Nigeria’s First Skyscraper

The Story of ‘Cocoa Boys’ Flocking Home to Make Money Off A Booming Cocoa Trade

Cocoa prices are peaking and civil servants, engineers are all quitting their jobs and rushing back home to cash in on the boom. Can they make enough to build another skyscraper? Enjoy!

Till Wednesday,

If you loved what you read, be sure to forward it to a friend. If you have any thoughts, you can leave us a comment by replying to this mail. We would love to hear back from you.