MEET: Mrs. Hannatu Paul Mershak The First Female President, Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN)
Naija CooperativeNews
History was made at the 9th National Cooperative Summit and Congress of the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN) held in Jos, Plateau State, when Mrs. Hannatu Paul Mershak emerged as the first female President of the apex cooperative body since its establishment in 1945.
A seasoned accountant, administrator, and cooperative development leader, Mrs. Mershak brings over three decades of professional and leadership experience spanning financial management, cooperative governance, and community development.
Born on 2nd February 1970 in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Mrs. Mershak holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Accounting from the University of Jos, as well as a Diploma and Certificate in Accounting and Auditing from the Plateau State Polytechnic. She began her career at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) where she rose through the ranks to become Chief Accountant before her retirement after 35 years of meritorious service.
Beyond her professional accounting background, Mrs. Mershak has been a pillar in Nigeria’s cooperative movement for over 20 years, serving in several leadership positions at the local, state, and national levels. She is the President of the Plateau State Cooperative Federation (PLASCOFED), where she successfully revived cooperative activities in the state after years of dormancy and strengthened the partnership between PLASCOFED and the State Ministry of Commerce and Industry. She also serves as President of Helping Hands Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Lamingo, and was National Treasurer and North Central Coordinator of the CFN prior to her election as National President.
Her leadership footprints include organizing numerous capacity-building workshops for cooperative leaders, promoting financial accountability and transparency, and championing youth and women inclusion in cooperative governance. She has presented and facilitated several papers at cooperative conferences across Nigeria and represented the country in multiple international cooperative forums including in Rwanda (2019), Egypt (2022), and Nigeria (2023).
Mrs. Mershak has received several awards, including the Presidential Award of the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN) in 2022, and Long Service and Selfless Service Awards from the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
A passionate advocate of inclusive and sustainable cooperative development, Mrs. Mershak’s vision as CFN President is to strengthen the cooperative movement through digital transformation, accountability, and grassroots empowerment, in alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP).
Fluent in English, Hausa, and her native Mwaghavul language, Mrs. Mershak is deeply committed to mentorship, Christian service, and rural enterprise promotion. She is married to Mr. Paul Mershak, and their union is blessed with four children.
