#CocoaNaChocolate: 1.2 million Africans Sign Petition in Support of ‘Cocoa Na Chocolate’ Campaign
Five months after the launch ‘Do Agric, it Pays!’ petition encouraging African leaders to make good on their promises to improve their investments in agriculture, One.org has enlisted more than 1.2 million signatures to the online petition. A majority of these come from Nigeria.
In April, ONE.org ambassador, Dbanj released the video ‘Cocoa Na Chocolate’ featuring 19 top African musicians in support of this campaign. The song, which also features Omawumi, Femi Kuti, Kunle Ayo and Dontom calls on Africans and leaders to use agriculture to create jobs and grow the economy.
The hit collaboration as been well received by the public and judging by the number of signatures to the campaign, young Africans really support the message.
In 2003, Nigeria promised to invest 10% of its budget in agriculture, but the budget currently sits at only 1.4%. Meanwhile, UN research shows that agric is 11 times more effective in combating poverty than other sectors such as mining and utilities. That is because 70% of Africans depend on it for their livelihoods.
Well, on June 23 – 27, African leaders will reconvene in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea for the African Union Summit. We wait to see if our leaders will heed the call of the people and decide to invest more in agric. Above all, we are yet to see if the Nigerian government will make good on its promises, heed the call of our artistes and petition-signers, and increase its agric budget.
Citizens can learn more and sign a petition in support of agriculture investment at www.one.org
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