Abstract: The colonial Ekiti was very rich in exportable commodities that enriched the colonial government through what was known as external trade; between the Ekiti people, the local businessmen, the middlemen, government and foreign nations, particularly Britain and the U.S.A. Two of the most lucrative export commodities were cocoa and palm produce like palm oil and palm kernel. Before colonization, cocoa had little economic value because of low external demand, mainly by few explorers in Nigeria who laboured to find foreign market for it. Palm produce was also mainly for local consumption, without the people really knowing its industrial and high economic value. However, during the colonial period, these products were aggressively sought after by foreign firms like John Holt, United African Company (UAC), G. B. Oliphant, A. G. Leventis and Perteson and Zochonis, among others. Trade in these commodities was controlled by agencies like the Nigeria Cocoa Marketing Board (NCMB) and the Nigeria Oil Palm Produce Marketing Board (NOPPMB). Cocoa and palm produce, in spite of the exploitative actions of the colonial government, made the economy of Ekiti very healthy and progressive.
Title: EXTERNAL TRADE IN COCOA AND PALM PRODUCE IN COLONIAL EKITI OF WESTERN NIGERIA
Author: Dr. (Mrs.) F. Jumoke Oloidi
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3164 (online), ISSN 2348-3156 (Print)
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