From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Federal Government has reaffirmed cooperatives as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, unveiling a five-year reform plan focused on digitalization, affordable financing, and legal modernization to reposition the sector for national development.
Speaking as Chairman at the Cooperative Education for Sustainable Development Summit, CESDES 2026, held at the Federal Cooperative College in Kaduna, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, CON, said the summit’s theme, “Cooperative Education as a Tool for Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development,” aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the government’s vision for a vibrant, innovative, and globally competitive cooperative sector.
Senator Abdullahi, who also oversees cooperative affairs, noted that cooperatives worldwide have demonstrated their ability to mobilize communities, create wealth, improve financial inclusion, generate jobs, reduce poverty, and strengthen social cohesion. In Nigeria, he said, cooperatives remain among the most powerful grassroots economic institutions, serving millions of farmers, traders, artisans, transporters, civil servants, women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
To unlock this potential, the Minister emphasized that cooperatives need to become knowledge-driven, technology-enabled, professionally managed, and better regulated. “Education equips cooperative leaders and members with the knowledge, skills, values, and competencies needed to manage enterprises effectively, embrace innovation, enhance governance, improve accountability, and compete in today’s digital economy,” he stated. He also highlighted that this is why “Education, Training and Information” remains one of the seven ICA cooperative principles.
Outlining government initiatives, Senator Abdullahi said the Ministry has introduced the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Program, RHCRRP 2025–2030, a comprehensive five-pillar plan to reposition cooperatives as a major contributor to national development. The program emphasizes governance and legal reforms, affordable financing, digital data systems, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities, along with strategic partnerships aimed at boosting competitiveness.
The Minister revealed that just a day earlier, he had engaged stakeholders from the North West at a Ministerial Advocacy and Stakeholders’ Engagement in Kaduna to build consensus for the reforms. From that engagement, he said three flagship priorities have emerged as immediate focus.
First is the Cooperative Sector Digital Architecture Platform, NCDAP, which will host the National Cooperative Smart Registry, NCSR. It will issue a Cooperative Verification Number, CVN, to societies and a Cooperative Member Identification Number, CMID, to individuals. The platform, he explained, will provide credible data, improve transparency, strengthen oversight, support evidence-based policy, ease access to finance, and reduce fraud.
Second is the proposed Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, conceived as a cooperative-owned financial institution to offer affordable, accessible financial services to societies and members nationwide. The bank will mobilize cooperative capital, finance agricultural production, support MSMEs, promote enterprise growth, and deepen financial inclusion. Importantly, Senator Abdullahi said the ownership structure will ensure that cooperatives and cooperators retain majority control, thereby preserving the cooperative character of the institution.
Third is the ongoing review of the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act, Cap N98, LFN 2004, along with the development of a modern regulatory and supervisory framework. He noted that while the existing Act has served the movement for years, emerging realities such as digital transformation, financial innovation, data protection, and evolving governance standards require an updated legal environment to strengthen compliance, clarify institutional roles, protect members, and boost investor confidence.
The Minister emphasized that the three initiatives are interconnected: digitalization provides the data and transparency necessary for effective regulation; regulation establishes the governance foundation for accountability and sustainability; while the Cooperative Bank acts as the financial engine to fund enterprises and unlock economic opportunities for millions of members.
He urged cooperative colleges at the federal and state levels to strengthen their curricula to address emerging issues, including cooperative governance, financial management, digital literacy, enterprise development, climate-smart agriculture, and cooperative technology. He also challenged cooperative leaders to embrace continuous learning, emphasizing that strong cooperatives are built by knowledgeable members, visionary leaders, and sound governance systems rooted in cooperative values.
In his welcome address, the Provost of the Federal Cooperative College, Kaduna, Dr. Auwal Ibrahim Mohammed, said the summit highlights the growing recognition of cooperative education as a solution to contemporary socio-economic challenges, including unemployment, poverty, inequality, food insecurity, and financial exclusion. He described cooperatives as enterprises owned, controlled, and managed by members who share common economic, social, and cultural aspirations, stressing that their success largely depends on education, a core cooperative principle.
Dr. Mohammed stated that the College remains committed to producing skilled cooperative professionals, managers, entrepreneurs, and development practitioners. He noted that its programs continue to be strengthened in cooperative studies, entrepreneurship, digital skills, financial inclusion, community development, and leadership training for cooperative executives.
He called on participants to use the summit to share experiences, exchange ideas, and develop actionable strategies to enhance cooperative education as a tool for sustainable development. “Let us reaffirm our collective commitment to building a knowledgeable, innovative, inclusive, resilient, and responsive cooperative movement that empowers communities, reduces poverty, creates decent jobs, and promotes sustainable economic growth,” he said.
Organized by the Federal Cooperative College, Kaduna, in partnership with Impact Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, IMCOOPS, and the Zaria Local Government Cooperative Union, CESDES 2026, this event brought together cooperative leaders, regulators, development partners, academics, and industry players to chart a new course for Nigeria’s cooperative sector.
