The federal government has launched a nationwide initiative to strengthen cooperative societies as key driver of economic empowerment and food security, with the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, unveiling a reform agenda at the Federal Cooperative College, Kaduna.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the National Intensive Training and Workshop for Cooperative Trustees and Managers, Abdullahi stated the administration’s commitment to overhauling the sector to align with global best practices.
“This training is not just about capacity-building, it is part of a larger strategy to reform and revamp the cooperative sector, ensuring its sustainability and relevance in Nigeria’s economic landscape,” he said.
He said the reform process would include amending the Nigerian Cooperative Act, strengthening regulatory frameworks to ensure transparency, and eliminating fraudulent cooperative societies that exploit unsuspecting citizens.
“The cooperative movement has been sidelined for too long, but under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are restoring its lost glory. This sector is vital to job creation, wealth distribution, and food security,” he added.
The minister added that cooperative societies must be positioned as vehicles for rural development, ensuring that economic opportunities are accessible to grassroots communities.