Minister Calls For Transformative Cooperative Renaissance To Drive National Growth 

… Commends A’Ibom Gov For Prioritising Cooperative Development 
UYO 
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security has called for a nationwide “transformative cooperative renaissance,” urging all stakeholders, including government agencies, financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector, to join forces.
Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, who made the made the call during the celebration of the 2025 International Day of Cooperatives, themed, “Cooperatives: Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World”, which took place at Ibom Hall grounds, Uyo on Saturday,
commended Akwa Ibom governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for prioritising cooperative development in his policies and programmes, highlighting that the State was making significant progress in building a robust cooperative sector.
  Abdullahi, while highlighting the profound impact of cooperatives, declared them far more than economic entities, saying, “Cooperatives are agents of inclusive development, promoting gender equity, youth engagement, rural industrialisation, and food security, they build bridges where formal systems have failed and serve as lifelines for the underserved and vulnerable.”
  The minister specifically pointed to Akwa Ibom as a potential model, urging other States to harness the power of cooperatives for inclusive and sustainable growth, citing the Akwa Ibom’s history of vibrant cooperatives.
  “Cooperatives have historically served as people-centred enterprises, rooted in democratic values and collective ownership, from the farmlands of Ikot Ekpene to the fishing cooperatives of Oron and the vibrant market cooperatives across Nigeria, these institutions have empowered millions by enabling access to cheaper finance, enhancing market participation, improving livelihoods, and strengthening community resilience,” Abdullahi noted. 
He commended Akwa Ibom State Bureau of Cooperatives and Rural Development for organising the event, calling it a “strategic platform to reflect, re-evaluate, and re-energise the cooperative movement” in the State towards achieving national and global development goals.
  “Let us continue to drive inclusive and sustainable solutions for a better Akwa Ibom, a better Nigeria, and a better world,” he concluded.
  The Akwa Ibom governor, Pastor Umo Eno, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to cooperative development, assuring that the State will continue to be a model in cooperative development through the implementation of well-planned policies and programmes.
  “We are committed to creating an enabling environment where cooperatives can thrive and contribute meaningfully to our collective prosperity,” Eno stated in his message. 
  Gov Eno, whose message was delivered by the special adviser in charge of the Bureau of Cooperative and Rural Development, Mrs. Alice Ekpenyong, further emphasised that supporting cooperatives is a “cornerstone of the ARISE Agenda,” detailing initiatives including the establishment of the 50-hectare Ibom Model Farm in Nsit Ubium, distribution of vital farm inputs, mobilisation of young farmers across schools, and the creation of a dedicated Bureau for Cooperative and Rural Development. 
  “These steps, backed by significant budgetary allocations, reflect our administration’s deliberate investment in grassroots prosperity under the ARISE Agenda,” the governor stated and also called on cooperative leaders, members and stakeholders to embrace modern technologies and best practices in cooperative engagement and management.
In her own remarks, the special adviser in charge of the Bureau of Cooperative and Rural Development, Mrs. Alice Ekpenyong, highlighted the synergy between the ARISE Agenda and cooperative principles, saying, “The ARISE Agenda of the Governor aligns with the cooperative principles by recognising that true development must be participatory, sustainable, and beneficial to all segments of the society.”
  Ekpenyong reported significant progress, stating the Bureau had succeeded in establishing cooperatives in all the 31 local government areas, with women constituting 60 per cent of cooperative membership, and had trained 10,000 members in modern management practices.
“It reflects the governor’s unwavering support for cooperatives and members’ dedication,” Ekpenyong maintained.
While giving his address, the chairman on the occasion, Obong Churchill Udoh, expressed his appreciation to Governor Umo Eno for his commitment to cooperative sustainability in Akwa Ibom.
  “Governor Umo Eno’s administration has taken a notable step by creating a Bureau to manage cooperative affairs in the State, highlighting the sector’s significance to him. 
  “I also want to commend the Honourable SA for her commendable role in ensuring this event aligns with the Governor’s Arise Agenda being the pioneer SA to head this office”.
  High point of the event was the presentation of awards and grants to some of the most outstanding cooperatives in Akwa Ibom, exhibitions, among other things.
  Activities for the three-day celebration of the 2025 International Day of Cooperatives, which aimed at celebrating and supporting cooperatives in Akwa Ibom, included a carnival float on major streets in Uyo;training for members of Cooperatives drawn from the 31 local government areas on “Book Keeping and Effective Management of Cooperative Societies for Trustees” at Women Development Centre, Uyo.
The International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated annually on the first Saturday of July, as proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992. This year’s theme, “Cooperatives: Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World”, aligns with the policy direction of Governor Umo Eno for the development of the cooperative sector in Akwa Ibom.