Cooperative societies play crucial role in driving economic growth – Minister 

By Mayen Etim, Kaduna

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has said about 12 per cent of the global population, according to International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), is engaged in one of the 3 million cooperatives worldwide providing stable employment and work opportunities for 280 million people that accounts for about 10 per cent of the world’s workforce.

Dr. Abdullahi made this known at the flag-off ceremony of the National Intensive training/workshop for trustees, management committees and managers of cooperative societies in Nigeria on Tuesday in Kaduna.

He said, with the above statistics, “the Renewed Hope Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recognizes cooperative societies’ crucial role in driving economic growth, social development, and community empowerment. Hence, the priority given to reforming and revamping the sector. Indeed, this is one of his campaign promises and we are actualizing it with vigour and a patriotic sense of duty and obligation to our citizens.”

The government is committed to providing capacity-building and development opportunities for cooperative society

According to him, to meet the expectations of revitalizing the sector, the 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, adding that the training flag-off was a testament to that commitment.

The Minister explained that the government embarked on the Renewed Hope Agenda for the cooperative sector, it is serious about overhauling the system through its reform and revamp programme, adding that it aimed 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

He explained further: “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.

“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.”

The Minister assured that the reform shall include very robust and all-inclusive human capital development for which are being kick-started today.

He said that the training would provide the participants with requisite skills and knowledge to effectively manage and lead their cooperative societies, stressing that it is expected that they all will gained valuable insights into enhancing their understanding of cooperative principles, leadership, and governance.

The knowledge shared in this training will focus not only on the core principles of cooperative management

He urged the participants to take full advantage of the training opportunity, advising 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 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.

Dr Awwal said: “The knowledge shared in this training will focus not only on the core principles of cooperative management, but also on the critical skills needed to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the modern economy.”

Cooperatives are much more than just organizations, but pillars of economic empowerment, social cohesion

According to the Provost, cooperatives are much more than just organizations, but pillars of economic empowerment, social cohesion, and sustainable development.

He said: “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.

“With the continuous evolution of technology, trade, and global systems, it is essential that we adapt, innovate, and learn to thrive.

The global economic environment now demands greater ability, transparency, and cooperation across borders – qualities inherent to cooperative societies.

“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 responsibilities, and democratic participation”.