By Dayo Johnson, Akure

Over 330 children of Cocoa farmers in Ondo and Cross River states, are to get back to school kits, courtesy of Barry Callebaut Nigeria Cocoa and Chocolate, under a community-based child labour protection initiative in cocoa farming communities.

This was contained in a statement issued by its Sustainability Operations Manager, Nigeria, Mujeeb Oniyide and made available to vanguard in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

Oniyide said that ” Barry Callebaut Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products – from sourcing and processing cocoa beans to producing the finest chocolates, including chocolate fillings, decorations and compounds.

“The Group runs more than 50 production facilities worldwide and employs a diverse and dedicated global workforce of more than 9,000 people.

Oniyide said that ” the back to school (kits) initiative provides quality educational items like school bags, lunch box bags, notebooks, writing materials like pen, pencil, eraser, sharper, ruler, mathematical sets, water bottles and sporting items to schools for over 330 children in 11 communities (5 communities in Ondo State and 6 communities in Cross-Rivers).

 According to him “This is a community-centric approach that is essential to create empowered communities, supporting cocoa farmers and making lasting change for the future of the children through the human right due diligence pillar of our Forever Chocolate strategy.

“Forever Chocolate is our plan to make sustainable chocolate the norm across our supply-chain.

“Launched in 2016, the Forever Chocolate targets for 2025 are unique in terms of ambition in the cocoa and chocolate industry.

“We have sharpened our 2025 target, committing to covering our entire supply chain with Human Rights Due Diligence.

“This includes the continued monitoring and remediation of child labor cases. At the same time, we are adding a target for 2030, supporting cocoa farming communities to protect child rights and prevent child labor from occurring.

“This approach focuses on the adoption of child- centric due diligence systems in cocoa farming communities, empowering communities to protect child rights.

“This means early recognition of children at risk of being involved in the worst forms of child labor and action to mitigate these risks.

“Forever Chocolate is focusing on four pillars, addressing the material challenges in the cocoa and chocolate supply chain: Prospering farmers, human rights due diligence, thriving nature and sustainable ingredients.

He said that ” Barry Callebaut Nigeria Cocoa and Chocolate is committed to make sustainable chocolate the norm by ensuring future supplies of cocoa and improving farmer livelihoods in rural settlement where cocoa are sourced and at the same time support the national economic plans for the country.

” It is our understanding that schools and children benefiting from this gesture will encourage many farmers and people living in the communities to understand importance of education, encourage their wards to attend school regularly and see the reason child labour should be totally discouraged on our cocoa farms.

He noted that ” Barry Callebaut Group is committed to sustainable cocoa production to help ensure future supplies of cocoa and improve farmer livelihoods.