After 17 years factory shutdown, Okin Biscuits resumes production in Kwara

After 17 years of inactivity, Okin Biscuits has resumed production on one of the rehabilitated production lines at its factory in Ijagbo, near Offa in Kwara State, a development that could pave the way for the popular indigenous biscuit brand’s return to the Nigerian market.

The company announced the development on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, saying biscuits rolled off one of the factory’s rehabilitated production lines on 25 August for the first time in nearly two decades.

The company said the production line had to be rebuilt after critical components, including cables, frequency drives, contactors, motors and other electronic equipment, were stolen during the years the factory was inactive.

It explained that the exercise was a technical trial run rather than a test of the finished product. The immediate objective, it said, was to establish whether the production line could be restored after 17 years of inactivity.

“At this stage, we were not concerned about colour, appearance or achieving the final Okin recipe. The objective was simple: Can we bring this line, silent for 17 years, back to life? And we did!” the company said.

The successful trial represents a significant stage in the rehabilitation of the Ijagbo factory, although the company said more work would be required before Okin Biscuits could fully return to the market.

Factory reconnects to the electricity grid

Another development recorded at the factory was its reconnection to the national electricity grid.

The company said the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) had officially connected the factory to a 33kV Band A electricity supply.

The reconnection is expected to support further testing and rehabilitation of the production facility as the company works towards restoring full production.

The company, however, said the resumption of production line activity did not mean the product was ready for commercial distribution.

“There’s still work ahead. More testing. More calibration. More rehabilitation. And, of course, getting that familiar Okin taste and quality exactly right before the biscuits return to the market,” it said.

The company described the development as a milestone in its effort to revive the brand.

“The machines are turning. The ovens are firing. The biscuits are beginning to roll out again,” it said.

Okin’s history in Kwara

Okin Biscuits is one of the indigenous Nigerian biscuit brands associated with the industrial history of Kwara State.

The company was founded in 1980 by Emmanuel Adesoye, a prominent businessman and educationist from Offa.

Mr Adesoye, who was also the founder of Adesoye College in Offa, was recognised by the Kwara State Government in 2022 for his contributions to the state’s development.

At a state honours ceremony held in Ilorin on 23 December 2022, Mr Adesoye was listed among recipients of the Lifetime Achievement and Posthumous Awards presented by the state government.

The awards recognised prominent Kwarans who had made contributions to the state, Nigeria and the wider world in areas including business, education, law, politics, public service, arts, sports and other fields.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said the awards were intended to recognise excellence, hard work and patriotism, and to preserve the contributions of notable Kwarans.

“On behalf of the government and people of this state, I congratulate all our awardees. The award is our token of appreciation for what you have done and continue to do make Kwara proud,” Mr AbdulRazaq said in a statement issued by his then Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, on 24 December 2022.

Mr Adesoye was described by the state government as the founder of Okin Biscuit and a foremost educationist.

A brand’s long absence

For years, Okin Biscuits was a familiar name among Nigerian consumers, particularly for its locally manufactured biscuits.

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The factory’s prolonged inactivity, however, brought production to a halt and left the brand absent from the market.

The company said the rehabilitation of the production facility has involved rebuilding parts of the production line that were damaged or stripped of essential components during the years of inactivity.

The recent technical run, therefore, represents more than the testing of machinery. It indicates that a production facility that had remained silent for 17 years can be brought back into operation.

The company is yet to announce a specific date for the full commercial return of Okin Biscuits.

For a company founded in 1980, the revival of the Offa factory would mark a new phase in the history of a brand that has remained part of Nigeria’s indigenous manufacturing story for decades.

The company said the latest development was only one step in the process.

“One step at a time. Okin is coming back,” it said.