2023 International Cooperative Day Celebrations in Lagos State was Grandeur

…Cooperative Awareness Walk in all Twenty-four Area Offices/Locations in the State

…Commissions CSR projects in all three senatorial Districts in the state

…Awards, Grand Prizes, and Lots of Consolation Prizes won by Cooperators

The 2023 International Day of Cooperatives (#CoopsDay) celebrations in Lagos State must have come and gone but the memories of the events will linger on for a while in the State Cooperators subconsciousness because of its lofty organization. The week-long events were great and impressive! They have proved once again that Lagos remains the center of excellence and a trailblazer when it comes to the organization of cooperative events in Nigeria.

The Lagos State Government Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives (MCIC)celebrated in grand style the International Cooperatives Day 2023 week-long celebration in the state set aside annually to celebrate Cooperators and Cooperative Movement for their invaluable contributions to the socio-economic development of the State, with the theme: “Cooperatives: Partners for Accelerated Sustainable Development”.

DAY ONE: 2023 #CoopsDay Press Conference

The Activities prepared to mark the Lagos State Coop Week and 2023 #CoopsDay started with a news conference on Tuesday, August 22 at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives (MCIC), Alausa – Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Adetutu Ososanya, FCA, stated that the annual celebration is in line with the global practice by Cooperatives worldwide since 1923. She said this year’s event, which marks the 101st edition, is actually the 29th to be recognized by the United Nations.

Her words: “Cooperative Movement is more relevant than ever in overcoming the developmental challenges of today and the coming decades. Cooperatives offer the chance to end economic deprivation, secure social inclusion, and reconcile economic and social objectives. The Movement can create wealth for the poor, generate jobs for millions of unemployed the world over, check poverty and hunger, and above all, achieve global prosperity.

“Cooperatives are vehicles for collaborative partnership and prosperity for all, which contribute to economic, social, and environmental sustainability across regions and economic sectors. It is inherent among Cooperatives to safeguard community relations, enhance local resources, advocate social responsibility, and adopt sustainable and long-term business practices”.

Ososanya affirmed that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu acknowledges the contributions of over 3000 active Cooperative Societies in the State as significant associations and enterprises through which citizens can effectively improve their lives while contributing to the economic, social, and cultural advancement of their communities, State and Nation.

“The administration prioritizes effective partnership with the Cooperative Movement. This is why the State Government celebrates Lagos State Cooperators and Cooperative Societies on an annual basis”, she said.

President of Lagos State Cooperative Federation (LASCOFED), Mr. Oladipo Shobule appreciated the State for giving the Cooperative Movement a voice as he described cooperatives in Lagos State as the best because they are well structured and usually complimentes the government in performing its social obligations to the citizens.

DAY TWO: Cooperative Awareness Walk

On Wednesday, 23rd August 2023 was a day of cooperative sensitization, enlightenment, and awareness walks in each of the twenty-four area offices/locations across the state.

In Ikeja, The Cooperative Awareness Walk was joined by the CFN & ICA-Africa President High Chief Ayeola who walked with the Cooperators in the Area to show solidarity and Support for the event

The event was a successful one as Cooperators troop out en masse to create awareness about Cooperatives, the benefits, and why people need to join or form one within their communities. A lot of pamphlets and flyers were distributed while the cooperators danced to live band sets and DJs on the move in various locations it happened on the day concurrently.

DAY THREE: Concern for Community (CSR) Projects

Thursday, 24th August, 2023 was another great day in the week-long events within the state as the Government commissioned some CSR ‘Concern for Community’ projects executed as part of activities marking the Day across the three Senatorial Districts of the State.

The commissioned CSR Projects across the three Senatorial Districts of Lagos State are Clean Drinking Water Borehole projects, located at 13, Okesuna Street, Lagos Island; 43, Falilatu Ajoke Ajoke Street, Ile Omi Bus Stop, Ijede, Ikorodu and Close 28, Satellite Police Barracks, Satellite Town, Amuwo Odofin which were facilitated by Idunu Oluwa Oyosowapo (Lagos Island) Cooperative Multipurpose Union, Omituntun (Ijede) Cooperative Multipurpose Union and Gbaloo-Ogoni (Amuwo) Cooperative Multipurpose Union respectively.

DAY FOUR: #CoopsDay Juma’at Service Celebration

Special Juma’at Service was held at the Alausa Secretariat Central Mosque on Friday, 25th August, 2023 where prayers were observed for the Ministry staff, Cooperators and their Cooperatives and family members and thanksgiving for another celebration in the state.

DAY FIVE: Climax of the 2023 #CoopsDay Event

Saturday, 26th August, activities was the grand finale day and climax of the week-long event held in the state and it happened at the LASCOFED Secretariat Building Premises in Isaacstan Close, WEMPCO Road, Ogba Industrial Scheme, Ogba-Ikeja, Lagos. The day was full of interesting, entertaining, and educating activities such as Keynote Addresses, Goodwilll Messages, Panel Discussion, Raffle Draw, Exhibition and Luncheon/Merit Award.

The Special Guest of Honor at the event His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ably represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, while speaking on the theme: “Cooperatives: Partners for Accelerated Sustainable Development”, affirmed that multi-stakeholders partnerships will facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building, as each stakeholder brings their unique experience, skill, and perspective to the table.

He said: “By encouraging collaboration with diverse partners, we can ensure cooperative societies access a broader range of knowledge and expertise through an exchange of ideas that would foster innovation and enable the development of more effective solutions to complex sustainability challenges.

“One of the very key reasons why our administration is interested in, and will advocate for partnerships as a means of accelerating sustainable development is the ability to mobilize people and financial resources like the Cooperatives, as both are central to any development”, Mr. Governor added.

According to him, it is crucial when we understand that Governments alone cannot provide all the requirements needed to address the challenges associated with sustainable development.

“Cooperative Societies are a major stakeholder in Lagos State and their services are at the core of our administration’s focus, as reflected in our T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda, which focuses on transforming our dear State into a modern economic powerhouse. By strengthening the Cooperative Movement through multi-stakeholder partnerships, our administration will facilitate additional financial resources and expertise to empower a greater number of people and boost development”. he said.

Sanwo-Olu stated further that his administration is actively working to create an enabling environment for cooperatives to thrive as it understands that cooperatives can be a strong driver of poverty alleviation, job creation, economic growth, and community empowerment.

“Our administration is also willing and ready to support cooperatives with training, financial assistance, and technical expertise to strengthen their operations. We have continued to facilitate the formation of new cooperatives and worked with existing ones to expand their reach and impact. With cooperatives as our partners, we aim to stimulate investments, harness local talents, and develop a more inclusive and sustainable economy”, he emphasized.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs. Adetutu Ososanya, FCA, stated that about 3000 active cooperative societies in Lagos State are playing crucial roles in promoting sustainable development as their structure fosters an inclusive approach, ensuring that the benefits of growth are distributed equitably among members and the broader community.

“We have witnessed the positive impacts of cooperatives in creating employment opportunities and fostering entrepreneurship, which has enhanced the livelihoods of thousands of our citizens. Cooperatives have played great roles in achieving the goals set out in the Lagos State Development Plan and through the Ministry, the administration is further fostering stronger cooperative societies using improved monitoring and regulatory functions”. she said.

The Guest Lecturer, Mr. Tunde Shosina called for more support for the Cooperative Movement in light of how they supported families and businesses during the pandemic saying, the Government can leverage their size and spread to deepen socio-economic development.

President, Lagos State Cooperative Federation Limited, Barrister Oladipo Shobule stressed the role of cooperatives in providing affordable credit and homes, enhancing agricultural productivity and food security in promoting entrepreneurship and empowering marginalised groups, which have truly proven themselves as partners in the journey towards sustainable development.

He said, “Our State has been a pioneer in recognising the potentials of cooperatives, and through strategic collaborations, we have harnessed their power to drive inclusive growth and positive social change”.

The VIPs at the event went to inspect the exhibition stands of the cooperators and made some purchases to support their businesses.

The event also featured a Panel discussion where the panelists who are experts in their various fields spoke extensively on their subject matter for the day, while several gifts items were won by cooperators through special recognition awards, raffle draws and consolation prizes given out to hundreds of participants at the event..

The day was a very busy one for all Cooperators in the state as the venue was jam-packed of several Cooperative members from across the twenty-four Unions and other Cooperative Associations members including Artisanal, LASCAM, ICOPRON, etc.

DAY SIX: #CoopsDay Thanksgiving Service

To end the 2023 International Cooperative Day, a Thanksgiving Service was held at the Chapel of Christ the Light (Interdenominational), Alausa Secretariat on Sunday, 27th August, where the Cooperative Stakeholders were all in attendance to appreciate the goodness of God to spare everyone’s lives to see another successful celebration in the state..