The African Coconut Heritage Initiative (AFRICOCO), the organiser of the annual coconut festival ‘AGUNKEFEST,’ has donated 1,000 coconut seedlings to communities and schools in Badagry to kick-start the 2024 planting season.

The president of the initiative, Mesi Doheto, said that the aim behind the donation was to promote coconut planting in schools and communities as well as to establish more community coconut farms (CCFs).

Communities to benefit from the initiative include Gbaji, Iya-Afin, Gbayingbo, Apa, and Kweme, all in Badagry-West LCDA.

Others are Topo, Dale, Akarakumo, Ajido, Imeke, Iworo and Ikoga in Olorunda LCDA, encompassing all eight quarters in Badagry LGA.

According to the president, each of these communities in Badagry will receive 50 coconut seedlings, respectively, to initiate the planting season.

“Each school that participated in the 2023 Arts Competition, organised by the initiative, will also benefit from the donation.

“Also, the nine schools that emerged in first, second and third positions in the three categories of the competition will also collect their prizes,” he said.

Ademola Mustapha, coordinator of AFRICOCO, said that Totta College, Owode-Apa, Methodist Senior Secondary School, Badagry and Kankon Junior Model School were among the schools that would receive 10 coconut seedlings each.

Mr Mustapha said that the winners of the 2023 Coconut Arts/Crafts, Poetry, and Paintings competition, organised by the initiative, were awarded their prizes.

Mr Mustapha, Peter Asu, Abogun Newton and other members of the initiative personally distributed the seedlings to the communities and schools involved.

Cash prizes were awarded to the nine winners across secondary schools that excelled in the 2023 Coconut Arts/Crafts, Poetry and Paintings competitions.

(NAN)