The National Coordinator of the Restore Nigeria Integrity Initiative, Comrade Itsede Victor, has called on the Federal Government to prioritize the development of cooperative societies as a means to alleviate poverty among the country’s teeming population.
Comrade Victor made this appeal during a Civil Society Organizations’ roundtable discussion with the Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan, held in Abuja earlier today.
According to Victor, cooperative societies, if given adequate attention, can significantly contribute to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He lamented the poor orientation and neglect of cooperative societies in Nigeria, which has discouraged the cultivation of crops such as cocoa, peanuts, and groundnuts, as many young people migrate to urban areas in search of white-collar jobs.
“Cooperative societies focusing on these areas could have created a mutually beneficial market for produce, attracting grants and other incentives such as skills development for members.
“Local marketing boards could also regulate prices and ensure the interests of both farmers and consumers are protected,” Comrade Victor noted.
He further expressed concern over the declining relevance of cooperative societies in the country, which once thrived in local and community setups.
“In the past, cooperative societies were instrumental in producing key commodities like the groundnut pyramids and driving the cocoa revolution. Unfortunately, that vibrant structure is now fading,” he remarked.
The roundtable event brought together members of civil society and the management of the Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan, to critically examine the role and potential of cooperative societies in Nigeria’s economic growth.
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