To achieve President Bola Tinubu’s vision for $1 trillion economy, the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) has reaffirmed its readiness to revitalize the Cooperative Sector.
This, it said, would drive economic growth, promote social cohesion, enhance food security as well as reduce poverty in Nigeria.
While estimating cooperatives and combined asset base worldwide at $19.6 trillion, which generate an annual revenue of $2.98 trillion, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said there is need to chart a new course for the cooperative sector in Nigeria and built on the principles of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.
He spoke in Abuja during the Technical Strategy Session on the Implementation of the Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme. .
Sen. Dr. Abdullahi said that “our mission today is to create an enabling environment that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation, this aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes economic growth and development”.
The Minister, in a statement by Ogbuagu Charity Chika, Principal Information Officer, on behalf of the Director Information, also outlined key areas of focus, including the review of the final report from the Ministerial Technical Working Group on cooperative reform.
Abdullahi stated that there is a plan for restructuring the Federal Department of Cooperatives, enhancing institutions such as the Federal Cooperative Colleges and the National Centre for Cooperative Development.
According to him, ‘’the goal is to equip these institutions to provide high-quality training and prepare Nigerian youths for a modern, people-centric cooperative movement’’,
He also underscored the importance of collaboration, calling for partnerships with private sector operators, civil society organizations, and cooperative societies across different categories.
“We must work together. The cooperative movement thrives on democratic principles and progressive thinking. Our success will depend on active participation and teamwork,” he said.
In his welcome address , the Director, Federal Department of Cooperative, Mr. Idris Sani stated that ‘’ there is need to create a vibrant and inclusive cooperative sector that benefits all Nigerians, we must work together as a team to promote social inclusion and position cooperatives as catalysts for socio-economic transformation’’.
Earlier in his remarks, the Special Assistant to the Minister of State on Cooperatives and Farmers' Welfare, Hon. Victor Oyegoke pointed out that the programme would provide a comprehensive approach toward integrating youths, people with Disabilities (PWDs), and Gender inclusiveness into cooperatives by fostering collaboration with organizations like the European Union.