Okin Biscuits has started production again after 17 years of being closed. The company is now using one of the repaired production lines at its factory in Ijagbo, near Offa in Kwara State. This move could help bring the popular biscuit brand back to Nigerian shops.
The company shared this news on its official Facebook page on Wednesday. Biscuits came off one of the factory’s restored lines on August 25 for the first time in nearly two decades.
Okin Biscuits said they had to rebuild the production line because important parts like cables, frequency drives, contactors, motors, and other electronic equipment were taken during the years the factory was not working.
They mentioned that the recent production was a technical trial run, not a test of the final product. The main goal was to see if they could get the production line working after such a long time.
“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.
This successful trial is a big step in bringing the Ijagbo factory back to life. But the company said more work is needed before Okin Biscuits can fully return to the market.
Another positive development is that the factory has been reconnected to the national electricity grid. The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has officially connected the factory to a 33kV Band A electricity supply.
This reconnection will help with further testing and rehabilitation of the factory as the company aims to restore full production.
The company, however, noted that just because production has started does not mean the biscuits are ready for sale. “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.
Okin Biscuits called this development a milestone in their effort to revive the brand. “The machines are turning. The ovens are firing. The biscuits are beginning to roll out again,” it said.
Okin Biscuits is one of the homegrown Nigerian biscuit brands that are part of Kwara State’s industrial history. The company was founded in 1980 by Emmanuel Adesoye, a well-known businessman and educator from Offa.
Mr Adesoye also started Adesoye College in Offa. In 2022, the Kwara State Government honored him for his contributions to the state’s development.
At a state honors event in Ilorin on December 23, 2022, Mr Adesoye received the Lifetime Achievement and Posthumous Awards. These awards recognized important Kwarans who contributed to the state, Nigeria, and the world in areas like business, education, law, politics, public service, arts, sports, and more.
The factory’s long closure stopped production and kept the brand away from the market. The company explained that fixing the production facility involved rebuilding parts of the line that were damaged or stripped of necessary parts during the years it was inactive.
The recent technical trial is not just about testing machines. It shows that a factory that has been quiet for 17 years can be made to work again. The company has not announced a specific date for when Okin Biscuits will be back on the shelves.
For a company established in 1980, reviving the Offa factory would mark a new chapter in the story of a brand that has been part of Nigeria’s manufacturing scene for years. The company said this latest progress is just one step in the journey. “One step at a time. Okin is coming back,” it said.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇