Nigeria Reaffirms Leadership in Africa’s Cooperative Movement at 14th AMCCO Conference in Kenya
Naija CooperativeNews
Nairobi, Kenya – October 2025: Nigeria has once again demonstrated its leadership and commitment to cooperative development on the African continent at the 14th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference (AMCCO) organized by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA-Africa) and hosted by the Government of Kenya from October 6–9, 2025, at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi.
The conference, themed “From Commitment to Action: Leveraging Global, Regional, and Local Partnerships for Sustainable Cooperative Development in Africa,” brought together ministers, policymakers, regulators, and cooperative leaders from across Africa to advance the role of cooperatives in achieving inclusive growth, food security, and economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063.
The Nigerian delegation was led by the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, CON, who also serves as Nigeria’s Minister in charge of Cooperatives.
In his Ministerial Statement Address during the opening session, the Honourable Minister highlighted the Federal Government’s ongoing Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP), which seeks to reposition the cooperative sector as a major vehicle for inclusive economic development, job creation, and poverty reduction under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He outlined strategic reforms being championed by the Ministry, including the proposed Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, the National Cooperative Smart Registry, and frameworks to expand youth and women participation in cooperative enterprise. The Minister further emphasized that these reforms align with the President’s goal of achieving a one-trillion-dollar economy through sectoral transformation and grassroots empowerment.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Nigerian delegation held high-level meetings with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Hon. FCPA Dr. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, and key cooperative institutions including the Cooperative Insurance Company (CIC) Kenya and the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA).
These engagements focused on bilateral collaboration in cooperative financing, risk management, digital innovation, and regulatory best practices — areas Kenya has demonstrated remarkable success.
During the closing sessions, Hon. Victor Olusegun Oyegoke, Special Assistant on Cooperatives and Farmers’ Welfare to the Honourable Minister, represented the Minister at the signing of the Nairobi Ministerial Declaration and received, on his behalf, the ICA-Africa Ministerial Award for Leadership Excellence, in recognition of Nigeria’s policy innovation and continental contributions to cooperative development.
The conference also witnessed the launch of the Africa Cooperative Model Law and the inauguration of the new ICA-Africa Regional Board (2025–2028), where High Chief Oriyomi Ayeola of Nigeria was re-elected as President of ICA-Africa, reaffirming Nigeria’s strategic leadership in continental cooperative governance.
Nigeria’s participation yielded key strategic gains, including:
- Continental recognition of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP) as a model framework for cooperative modernization in Africa.
- Strengthened bilateral cooperation with Kenya on cooperative regulation and financing.
- Enhanced continental visibility and influence through leadership positions within ICA-Africa.
- Reinforced commitment to integrating cooperatives into Nigeria’s national economic growth agenda.
The Honourable Minister commended ICA-Africa and the Government of Kenya for hosting a successful conference and reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to deepen collaboration across Africa to promote inclusive and sustainable cooperative growth.
