By Victoria Onehi
The Minister of State, Federal Ministry Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has flagged-off the distribution of farm inputs to Members of National Agricultural Cooperative Apexes to enhance food security.
The event which took place at Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) Building in Abuja, recently is in support of the Federal Governments declaration of State of Emergency on food security in Nigeria.
In a statement,the Minister noted that it is needed that the Cooperative Sector be reformed, rebranded and revived, pointing out that the Cooperative laws was obsolete and needed to be updated.
The Minister also highlighted that trust deficit was one of the reasons cooperatives has not grown in Nigeria compared to other countries.
Sen. Abdullahi stressed that poverty is on the increase, and there is need to step it down.He therefore urged Cooperatives to be governed by trust and mutual interest to serve members better and help alleviate poverty.
He appealed to the leaders of the sector to change the narrative to suite the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assuring that he will be the number one promoter of the Cooperative and also assured that the Minister will be number one cooperator, while the President will be the Grand Commander of Cooperators.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Temitope Fashedemi, represented by Federal Director of Cooperatives, Alhaji Idris Sanni, stated that the Minister was in support of the distribution of farm inputs to members of National Agricultural Cooperative Apexes to enhance food security.
He noted that the initiative was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to ensure food security, poverty eradication and economic growth.
In his remarks, the President, Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, International Cooperative Alliance-Africa and the Vice President, International Cooperative Alliance-Global, Chief Tajudeen Oriyomi Ayeola, pointed out that he assumed duty as the President, seven years ago, having worked with the former Minister, Audu Ogbe and now the present Minister.
He commended the Minister, pointing out that his appointment was an example of a ‘right peg in the right hole.’He conferred on him the Cooperative Champion.
The Cooperative-President stated that cooperative is an instrument of development and has a a lot to contribute to the GDP of the country noting that the Cooperative Movement of Kenya has been contributing between 40 and 43 per cent to the GDP of Kenya.
He pointed out that those involved in sharp practices are not registered members of the Cooperatives and as such, government has a lot to do, by coming up with programmes and paying more attention to the Cooperative movement.
In attendance were President of Women in Cooperative, National Agricultural Cooperative, NACO, NIWCOFA, amongst others.
Highlight of the event was the distribution of the improved seeds and fish feeds to the cooperative leaders.
