By Abubakar Yunusa
Akilaah Solutions and its parent firm, MAJ Fintech Group, dominated the 7th Nigerian National Cooperative Awards, winning all three categories in which they were nominated.
Their sweep came as the Federal Government announced that digitisation would form a core pillar of Nigeria’s Cooperative Reform Programme scheduled for 2026.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, who also coordinates the reform, said during the national symposium that full-scale digital operations would drive the modernisation of the sector.
He listed the focus areas as transparent financial reporting, accurate member and asset data, stronger governance systems, and technology-enabled inclusion for women, farmers, traders and young people.
The announcement places Akilaah, a digital cooperative ecosystem, in a strong position to support the nationwide reform. The platform already offers tools that align with the government’s blueprint, including digital savings and loans, biometric onboarding, e-voting modules, real-time visibility for regulators and an internal marketplace for producers and MSMEs.
Industry observers say the system could help digitise more than 30,000 cooperatives and millions of members across the country.
At the Lagos ceremony, MAJ Fintech was named Most Innovative Company of the Year, while Akilaah won Best Cooperative Management Solution. Mrs Amenan Amandine Kouakou was honoured as Most Outstanding Cooperative President.
Reacting, Kouakou said the awards represented “every cooperative, every woman, every youth, and every community striving for financial dignity,” adding that Akilaah would continue to innovate for Nigeria and Africa.
With the government now steering the sector toward a digital-first future, Akilaah appears set to play a central role in transforming cooperative finance, governance and welfare distribution nationwide.
