CFN Calls for Partnership with Federal Government

The Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to use the existing cooperative platforms for the implementation of its socio-economic programs.

Over 20 million cooperative members across the country, have expressed readiness to support and implement the socio-economic policies of President Bola Tinubu. This was stated by the President of the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, High Chief Tajudeen Oriyomi Ayeola, at a press conference held in Abuja ahead of this year’s International Cooperative Day coming up on the first Saturday in July 2023.

Oriyomi said the pivotal role cooperatives play in socioeconomic development in every country cannot be overemphasized.

According to him as the President of the International Cooperative Alliance-Africa, (ICA-Africa) the aim of the celebration is to increase awareness of the contributions of the cooperative movement to providing solutions to some of the problems besetting the world.

He further stated that the first Saturday of July every year is set aside by International Cooperative Alliance to celebrate International Cooperative Day, and the celebration is used to highlight the successes and challenges of cooperatives and chart a course of action for further growth and development for the coming years while strategizing to surmount identified challenges.

The theme for 2023 International Cooperative Day is ‘Cooperatives for Sustainable Development’ as an indication of the contributions of cooperatives to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs) around the world.

He said: “In Nigeria, cooperatives are in practically all spheres of human endeavor and all nooks and crannies of our rural and urban areas. Cooperative operations cover agriculture, health, transportation, manufacturing, production, housing, and the most widely known, provision of affordable credit facilities for members.

“Many cooperatives across the country are involved in agriculture and manufacturing of agro-allied products. Cooperatives and Co-operators in Nigeria have huge investments in land and water transportation, education (primary and secondary schools) housing, and health facilities worth hundreds of billions of Naira.

“In housing, many co-operators are homeowners, courtesy of their cooperative societies whose terms are affordable. We are willing to do more for Nigerians in partnership with the government through any of her agencies.

Oriyomi said that the government’s implementation of its socio-economic programs through cooperatives would lead to sustainable and better welfare for the Nigerian people.

“Let me at this juncture appeal to the Federal Government to pay adequate attention to the cooperative sector. Cooperative is a veritable tool for driving sustainable programs worldwide and has been recognized by the United Nations as a resilient business model.

I, therefore, call on the government to use the existing cooperative platforms for the implementation of their socio-economic programs for sustainable and better welfare of the Nigerian people.

“With over 20 million cooperative members across the country, we are willing to partner with the current administration in its stride to drive sustainable growth for our dear country, particularly in the wake of the government’s plan to roll out palliatives to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.”