The federal government has pledged to revitalise the cooperative sector to enhance food security, job creation, inclusive growth, and sustainable development.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Aliyu Abdullahi made the pledge at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs (NCCA) on Thursday in Abuja.

The meeting’s theme is “Revitalising Nigeria’s Cooperative Societies: A Catalyst for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable National Development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

It was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) through its Federal Department of Cooperatives (FDC).

Mr Abdullahi, who also supervises cooperative affairs in Nigeria, said revitalising the sector was critical to addressing its challenges and harnessing its enormous potential.

He identified key challenges as weak governance, outdated policies and legal frameworks, poor data management, underfunding, exclusion from mainstream financial opportunities, and limited digital adoption.

According to him, other issues include fragmented operations across states, inadequate training for cooperative leaders, managers, and regulators, and the absence of an inclusive programmatic development approach.

The minister stressed that revitalising and modernising the cooperative sector was urgent and non-negotiable if Nigeria were to achieve food security, reduce poverty, and expand economic opportunities.

“Cooperatives remain one of Nigeria’s most powerful people-driven economic engines.

“They are the backbone of food production and distribution, rural and community development, housing and microfinance systems, transportation, and market organisation.

“They also drive youth, women, and persons with disabilities’ empowerment, as well as the sustainability of micro, small, and medium enterprises,” he said.

Mr Abdullahi added that the federal government, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, had prioritised cooperative revitalisation as a key strategy for achieving food security, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.

The minister disclosed that the ministry had developed the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP) to address sectoral challenges.

He said the programme, built on seven pillars, was a comprehensive national framework aimed at repositioning the cooperative sector for the 21st century.

The pillars include governance, legal and regulatory reforms, cooperative financing, and expanded funding opportunities, among others.

Mr Abdullahi described the NCCA as a critical platform for shaping the future of Nigeria’s cooperative movement.

Also speaking, Marcus Ogunbiyi, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said efforts were ongoing to reposition the sector as a strategic driver of food security and national development.

Represented by Ibrahim Tanimu, Director of Planning and Policy Coordination, Mr Ogunbiyi said that cooperatives are central to delivering the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the council serves as a key platform for policy decisions, bringing together stakeholders to strengthen the cooperative movement for greater impact.

“It is expected that council members will consider policies based on core cooperative values such as honesty, openness, social responsibility, and care for others and adopt resolutions that align with the objectives of the meeting,” he said.

Mr Ogunbiyi added that the success of revitalisation efforts would depend on collective commitment and objective decision-making.

He urged members to actively participate in deliberations with professionalism, a sense of responsibility, and national interest.

The council comprises commissioners in charge of cooperative affairs across the 36 states of the federation. 

(NAN)