The Federal Government said it must reform, revamp and reposition the cooperative sectors to meet the demands of the present and the future.

Minister of state for agriculture and food security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, stated this at a one-day workshop and retreat for the staff of the federal department of cooperative held at Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) Complex in Abuja.

Abdullahi noted that around the world, cooperatives have lifted millions out of poverty, expanded access to finance and build strong community resilience.

The minister tasked staff of the Ministry to drive Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP), aimed at creating Community Wealth, Shared Prosperity and inclusive Cooperative Ecosystem.

He explained that the initiative is a comprehensive home-grown blueprint designed to position the cooperative movement as a central driver of food security, job creation, and inclusive growth under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.

The Minister mentioned that the key components of transforming the cooperative sector includes; policy and regulatory reforms to improve governance, accountability and ease of conducting comprehensive business, transforming cooperative registrations through digitalization of both the federal and state levels, capacity building for cooperators, cooperative officers, service providers focusing on entrepreneurship, financial literacy and institution development through strengthening Federal Department of Cooperative.

He stated that the retreat would provide an opportunity to resolve internal differences, build synergy, and reposition the department as the true engine room of Cooperative Development in Nigeria.

He added that it would deepen staff understanding and ownership of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP).

“Ensuring that together, we build a stronger and more impactful cooperative sector in Nigeria. The minister appealed that this retreat will be a turning point, let it be the day when every staff member from the federal directors down to the recently recruited officers make a commitment: we are one team, serving one vision for one Nigeria,” he said.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, appealed to the staff “embrace this golden opportunity which aims at strengthening the bonds among all cadres of staff and officers.”

In his welcome address, the Director, Federal Department of Cooperatives, Alhaji Idris Sani, said that the RH–CRRP would strengthen the cooperative federation of Nigeria (CFN) as an umbrella body for the cooperative movement in Nigeria, among others.