Zymbol Cooperative Management Services Empowers Home Secretaries to Drive Excellence in Cooperative Governance
Naija CooperativeNews
Ikorodu, Lagos: In commemoration of the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives (#IYC2025), Zymbol Cooperative Management Services has taken a bold step to strengthen the administrative backbone of Nigerian Cooperatives through a Capacity-Building Seminar for Cooperative Home Secretaries, themed “Home Secretaries as Effective Tools for Cooperative Sustainability.”
The impactful session was held on Saturday, 25th October 2025, at Aunty Kenny’s Hall, Ikorodu, Lagos, drawing cooperative officers, secretaries, and managers from across Lagos State to share insights, sharpen their administrative skills, and recommit to ethical and transparent cooperative governance
Inspiring Mindset and Value Reorientation: Delivering a stirring goodwill message, Alhaji Salami Abiola urged participants to embrace continuous learning and renew their mindset toward professionalism. He reminded attendees that “the sustainability and progress of any cooperative depends on the commitment and integrity of its leaders — especially the secretaries who hold the system together.”
He further highlighted three essential values for every cooperative administrator — Quality, Integrity, and Self-fulfilment — describing them as the cornerstones of accountability and service excellence. According to him, quality means maintaining high standards in record-keeping and operations; integrity reflects honesty and confidentiality; while self-fulfilment means finding purpose in service and contributing meaningfully to collective growth.
Interactive Learning and Practical Insights: The seminar’s facilitator and CEO of Zymbol Cooperative Management Services, Mr. Gafar Olaonipekun (FICP), led an engaging interactive session featuring practical drills and knowledge tests on cooperative administration. Participants tackled real-world scenarios such as the roles of trustees, executive financial discipline, and conflict resolution mechanisms within cooperative societies.
In his presentation, Mr. Olaonipekun traced the origin of the term cooperative to the Latin phrase “Co-Operari” — meaning “to work together.” He reemphasized the seven internationally recognized cooperative principles as the moral and operational compass of every society:
- Voluntary and Open Membership
- Democratic Member Control
- Member Economic Participation
- Autonomy and Independence
- Education, Training, and Information
- Cooperation Among Cooperatives
- Concern for Community
The Secretary: The Lifeline of the Cooperative|: Mr. Olaonipekun underscored that the cooperative secretary remains the lifeline of any society, serving as the bridge between management, members, and regulators. He described the role as one of “trust, diligence, and precision,” emphasizing that the office demands high ethical standards and confidentiality.
He outlined critical records every secretary must maintain — from minutes and member registers to financial ledgers and audit reports — stressing that “accurate documentation is the heartbeat of transparency and accountability.”
He concluded with a charge to all participants: “When purpose and responsibility are not understood, abuse becomes inevitable. Every cooperative secretary must understand their power and duty to uphold the integrity of their society.”
Commitment to Cooperative Excellence: The seminar concluded with a robust question-and-answer session and the presentation of certificates of participation. Attendees departed with renewed enthusiasm to strengthen their cooperatives through effective record-keeping, ethical leadership, and administrative excellence.
Through this initiative, Zymbol Cooperative Management Services has once again demonstrated its commitment to nurturing competent cooperative administrators — echoing the global message of #IYC2025: “Cooperatives Build a Better World.”
