The Essence of Cooperative Meetings and Planning for Co-ops Members’ Retirement

The College of Administrative and Business Studies Cooperative Investment and Credit Society (CABSCICS) Limited held their 2023 Annual Cooperative Lecture last week on the 9th of August, at the Kingsley Rucker Lecture Theater Kaduna Polytechnic, Ugwan Rimi, Kaduna State.

The well-attended event had two paper presentations and topical discussions around; Understanding the Relevance of Cooperative Meetings and Bye-Law delivered by Mr Daniel Akut Saleh Ph.D in View and Retirement Plan for Members by Cooperative Society was delivered by Dr Joseph E. Ogbu.

The first Invited Speaker makes some keynotes talking about the importance of Cooperative meetings, that Members power lies on attending Meetings and making meaningful contributions, especially the Annual General Meeting where key decisions are made, he mentioned types of cooperative meetings with their objectives and relevance, while advising Cooperative Members to be well grounded and remain conversant with the provisions in the Society’s Bye Law.

On the other hand, the second speaker spoke about the Retirement Plan for Members by Cooperative Societies, emphasizing the total monitoring of any Strategic Plan the Cooperative Society has made for all its Retiring Members to ensure they retire well and in good health with peace of mind.

Speaking at the event is Dr. Usman A. Usman an Expert in Cooperative Matters and a prolific event organizer who advised that Cooperatives should amend their Bye-Laws to incorporate Members’ Retirement Plans. He made an example that, If any Member(s) have like Six years to Retirement, the Society should call all these members, organize a pre-retirement workshop for them and ask each for their Retirement Plan so that the society can Key into individual Plans and as well advise better where the need arise. Also, there should be plans of giving long-term repayable loans for a period of four years out of the remaining six years to Retirement where the Cooperative would be guiding the Members preparing for retirement to achieve their major plans so that they will retire without any debt and enjoy benefits and entitlement from the government when it comes.

The welcome address was made by the Vice President of CABSCICS Mrs. Sussy B. Ali, who appreciated all the invited guests and participants at the occasion.

Goodwill messages were delivered by some key personalities at the event, amongst them was the Dean of College and Head of the Department of Cooperative Economics & Management (CEM) at Kaduna Polytechnic

The College Dean, in his message, advised that other Cooperative Societies within Kaduna Polytechnic should follow the examples laid by CABSCICS to educate their members and the general public while praying for the Society’s growth and development to greater heights. Also, in the same vein, one of the Elders in the Department of CEM KadPoly, Mr. Sunny Ogbu ficp, urged other Cooperative Societies within Kaduna Polytechnic to come together and form a formidable Cooperative Union in the spirit of Cooperative Principle 6 – Cooperation Among Cooperatives.

Most of the Invited Cooperative Societies made goodwill messages saluting the efforts of CABSCICS and promised to emulate what they have witnessed, praying for the continued organization of the annual event.

The President of CABSCICS Dr. Mohammed Omotosho Salawu made closing remarks by thanking the Kaduna Polytechnic Management for their support, the organizing committee of the Occasion, Invited Cooperative Societies, and especially all members of CABSCICS for taking time out of their busy schedule to attend and participate in the memorable occasion which is an Annual Event in CABSCICS Calendar. He extended his appreciation to the members of the Press present at the event.

Dr. Salawu, however, promised that next year’s event will be bigger and better, as CABSCICS will be preparing for her Silver Jubilee Celebrations which is the 25th year of existence since her establishment.

The 2023 Annual Cooperative Lecture was attended by members of CABSCICS, Kaduna State Chapter of ICOPRON, representatives from the newly formed Kaduna Federation of Worker Cooperatives headed by Chief Abel Habila Adamu, and eight other sisters Primary Cooperative Societies in Kaduna State.

The occasion was anchored by Dr. Usman A. Usman, who is a season Cooperator, an event organizer, and a consultant to CABSCICS Ltd.