A passionate appeal has gone to Niger state Governor Hon. Umaru Mohammed Bago to pay adequate attention to cooperative sector to ensure the development of the state. The president of Niger State Cooperative Federation (NISCOFED) Comrade Labaran Garba, made the plea at a stakeholders meeting of various cooperative unions held at the Conference Hall of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Secretariat Minna, on Wednesday. Comrade Garba said that the appeal became necessary and imperative as he described cooperative as a veritable tool that complement government efforts in poverty reduction, driving sustainable programmes of government which is recognised by the United Nations as resilient business model.
The president of state cooperative federation disclosed further that the need for government to give adequate attention to cooperative sector was equally necessary as cooperatives contributes towards achieving sustainable development in any given society, adding that formation of various cooperative societies was to support the people and the communities for them to achieve their goals and objectives.
Comrade Garba said that cooperatives have contributed to the growth and development of Niger state economy over the years by providing members in micro, small and medium enterprise with loans at affordable interest rates to develop their business investments, thereby creating more jobs and wealth.
According to him, many cooperatives across the state was involved in agriculture and manufacturing of agro allied products, while many cooperators in Niger state as well as various cooperatives have huge investments in land, education, housing and health facilities worth millions of naira and urged the cooperators to continue to show more commitment to the ideals of cooperative prinicples and values, and drive to promote the growth of cooperative movement in all sectors of the economy.
The president who spoke on the essence of the stakeholders meeting, however said that it was aimed at assembling the stakeholders to brainstorm so as to strengthen the cooperatives, discussed on how to address the challenges and chat a way forward, adding that it was also aimed at marking the 101st day celebration set aside by International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and United Nations by every first Saturday of July every year with the aim at increasing awareness on the actitivies of cooperative movement, by highlighting the credible impacts of cooperatives socities. Speaking at the occasion, the Director Cooperative, Ministry of Investment, Commerce and Cooperatives, Musa Mohammed Erena, appreciated the organisers of the programme and called for robust synergy between the management of various cooperatives in the state and the ministry for them to succeed.
The stakeholders meeting was attended by chairmen, secretaries of various cooperatives across the state.
The Theme for this year's International Cooperative Day according was "Cooperatives for sustainable Development."