Osun Govt to host inaugural Cooperative summit

By Jeleel Olawale, Osun

In a bid to revive cooperative societies in Osun State, the Osun state government is billed to host the inaugural Cooperative summit in the state.

The 2-day Summit organised by the Ministry of Cooperatives and Empowerment, Osun State will be held on 23rd and 24th January will provide a platform to discuss the future of the sector in the state.

The Summit will also afford stakeholders in the Cooperative subsector of the economy and cooperators to brainstorm on how to further revive the sector to boost the economy of the state.

Speaking, the Commissioner for Cooperatives and Empowerment, Prince Bayo Ogungbangbe, said several cooperative societies have been invited for the 2-day summit while the governor will declare summit open on Tuesday and award will be given to important personalities who have contributed immensely to the  development of Cooperative societies in the state.

Recall that on assumption of office, Governor Adeleke established the Cooperatives and Empowerment Ministry as a full-fledged ministry, headed by Prince Bayo Ogunbangbe, the Commissioner for cooperatives and empowerment and the Special Adviser to the Governor, Hon. Durojaye Isaac.

One of the key accomplishments of the Ministry in the last one year, is the successful establishment and support of various cooperative societies across the state.

Recognising the importance of cooperative societies in fostering economic development, the governor provided financial assistance, training, and infrastructure support to these cooperatives. This has enabled them to thrive and contribute to the growth of the local economy in the state.

In addition to supporting the existing cooperatives, the state government has also launched several new cooperative initiatives to empower different segments of the population.

The Commissioner said that as a result of the giant strides of the Governor in the Cooperative sector, that was why the Governor was recently given award as the Most Outstanding Governor of the Year and National Patron of the Nigerian National Cooperative by the Cooperative Rating and Award Society of Nigeria (CRASoN) in Lagos last weekend.

He affirmed the state government’s continued commitment to policy reforms, increased funding, and support for cooperative societies to further unlock their potential for socio-economic development.

He noted that numerous cooperative societies have thrived, leading to increased economic participation, job creation, and improved living standards. “Cooperatives are an essential tool for empowering our people and fostering inclusive socio-economic development.”

“Governor Adeleke’s decision to establish the Ministry of Cooperatives and Empowerment reflects his understanding of the significant impact that cooperative societies have on the grassroot economy. This has boosted micro-credit and small scale businesses in the state.”