Federal Government says will continue to recognize the cooperative societies crucial role in driving economic growth, social development, and community empowerment in the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi stated this during the flag-off ceremony of the National Intensive Training for trustees, management committees and managers of cooperative societies in Nigeria, held in Kaduna.
According to the International Cooperative Alliance, over 12% of the global population is engaged in one of the 3 million cooperatives worldwide.
Cooperatives are vital for sustainable economic growth, providing stable employment and work opportunities for 280 million people, which accounts for about 10% of the world’s workforce.
The largest 300 cooperatives and mutuals generate a total turnover of $2.4 trillion, as reported by the World Cooperative Monitor 2023.
According to the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, to meet the expectations of revitalizing the sector, Federal Government is committed to providing capacity-building and development opportunities for cooperative society leaders and managers in the 36 States of the Federation including the FCT.
He said as government embark on the Renewed Hope Agenda for the cooperative sector, it was taken it serious about overhauling the system through their reform and revamp program.
The Minister explained that the aim was to bring innovation by renovating first, revitalizing the sector to restore confidence in the masses and bringing back the glory of the cooperative movement as a force to reckon with in socio-economic development in Nigeria.
“The reform and revamp will focus on review and amendments of the Nigeria Cooperative Act to bring it up to date with global best practices and our local realities; development of regulatory framework to ensure compliance and due diligence in management of cooperatives; robust stakeholder mapping and analysis to guarantee participation; and monitoring strategies to weed out fake and corrupt cooperative societies who steal and scam innocent citizens” he said.
“Indeed, the days of fake cooperative societies is gone and we are taking measures to bring sanity. Very soon the National Council on Cooperative Affairs will be convened to bring synergy, collaboration and partnership with the States Cooperative ecosystem. Furthermore and more essentially, the reform shall include very robust and all-inclusive human capital development for which we are kick-starting here today”.
“I commend the effort of the Provost of the Federal Cooperative College, Kaduna, Dr. Ibrahim Auwal for kick-starting this laudable educational initiative, aligning to the reform and revamp programme. As we all know, a well-informed sector will indeed do better”.
“I also want to acknowledge the efforts of the Federal Cooperative Colleges in Ibadan, Oyo State, and in Oji-River, Enugu State, for planning the same intensive training workshop for the Cooperative Leaders and Managers within the Western and Eastern geo-political zones to ensure we have it cut across the nation”.
“This training will provide you as participants with the requisite skills and knowledge to effectively manage and lead your cooperative societies. It is expected that you all will be gaining valuable insights into: Leadership and Governance: Enhance your understanding of cooperative principles, leadership, and governance.
Management and Operations: Improve your skills in managing and operating cooperative societies.
Financial Management: Learn effective financial management strategies for cooperative societies”.
Minister Sabi assured that the reform shall include very robust and all-inclusive human capital development for which they are kick-starting in Kaduna.
He urged the participants to take full advantage of the training opportunity,and advised them to work together to revitalize the cooperative sector and restore its glory as a force for socio-economic development in Nigeria and the leading giant they used to be in Africa.
In his welcome address, the Provost, Federal Cooperative College, Kaduna, Dr. Ibrahim Awwal, expressed confidence that the training programme would provide the participants the opportunity to begin a journey that they would be confident will equip them with the essential tools, knowledge, and strategies needed to advance their cooperative and strengthen the communities they serve.
He noted that cooperatives are pillars of economic empowerment, social cohesion, and sustainable development.
“On today’s rapidly evolving global economy, cooperative societies have proven themselves as vital instruments of change, contributing significantly to economic resilience, poverty alleviation, and community-driven development,” he said.
“This training marks the beginning of a journey that we are confident will equip you with the essential tools. knowledge, and strategies needed to advance your cooperatives and strengthen the communities they serve”
“Cooperatives are much more than just organizations-they are pillars of economic empowerment, social cohesion, and sustainable development”.
“In today’s rapidly evolving global economy, cooperative societies have proven themselves as vital instruments of change, contributing significantly to economic resilience, poverty alleviation, and community-driven development”.
“As we move into an era of interconnected global markets, the importance of cooperatives has never been clearer. In an age of economic uncertainties, cooperatives offer a unique model that is rooted in shared values of mutual support, collective responsibility, and democratic participation”.
“They create spaces for collaboration among individuals, enabling them to pool their resources for greater impact”.
“In this training, you will be introduced to new models of governance, management, and strategic partnerships that will help your cooperatives remain competitive and sustainable. We will focus on effective financial management member engagement, and ways to enhance operational efficiency- all designed to position you as leaders within your communities and sectors”.
“As you engage in this intensive training, remember that the knowledge you acquire will have far-reaching effects on your respective cooperative and, by extension, on the economy at large. By empowering yourselves with the right tools, you would be able to contribute to the broader movement of cooperative societies that aim to build more equitable, just, and sustainable economic systems”.
Cov/Adamu Yusuf
