By Zakari Haruna Isah
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to repositioning Nigeria's cooperative sector as a major driver of economic growth, financial inclusion and job creation through a comprehensive reform programme that includes plans to establish a Cooperative Bank of Nigeria.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this at the Cooperative Education for Sustainable Economic Development Summit (CESDeS 2026) held at the Federal Cooperative College, Kaduna.
Speaking as Chairman of the occasion, Abdullahi said the summit's theme, "Cooperative Education as a Tool for Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development," was in line with the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda and efforts to build a vibrant and globally competitive cooperative sector.
He noted that cooperative societies have over the years played significant roles in wealth creation, poverty reduction, financial inclusion and employment generation, particularly among farmers, traders, artisans, women and youths.
According to the minister, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is implementing the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP) 2025–2030, a five-year initiative aimed at transforming the sector into a stronger contributor to national development.
Abdullahi identified digital transformation, establishment of a Cooperative Bank and regulatory reforms as the three major pillars of the programme.
He explained that the National Cooperative Digital Architecture Platform (NCDAP), which will support a National Cooperative Smart Registry, Cooperative Verification Number (CVN) and Cooperative Member Identification Number (CoopID), is designed to improve transparency, accountability and access to finance while reducing fraud in the sector.
On the proposed Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, the minister said the institution would be owned by cooperatives and provide affordable financial services to cooperative societies and their members across the country.
He said the bank would support agricultural production, boost micro, small and medium enterprises and deepen financial inclusion for millions of Nigerians.
Abdullahi also disclosed that government was reviewing the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act to create a modern regulatory framework capable of addressing emerging challenges such as digital transformation, financial innovation, data protection and evolving governance standards.
He described the reforms as interconnected, noting that digitalisation would provide credible data and transparency, regulation would ensure accountability, while the proposed Cooperative Bank would serve as the financial engine of cooperative enterprises.
The minister further described the Federal Cooperative College, Kaduna, as a strategic institution for cooperative education, research and leadership development, urging cooperative colleges to strengthen training in digital literacy, enterprise development and climate-smart agriculture.
Earlier, Provost of the Federal Cooperative College, Kaduna, Dr. Awwal Ibrahim Mohammed, said cooperative education remains a powerful tool for addressing unemployment, poverty, inequality, food insecurity and financial exclusion in the country.
In his welcome address, Mohammed said the challenges facing Nigeria require innovative and people-centred solutions capable of empowering citizens and communities to participate actively in economic development.
He stressed that cooperatives, founded on the principles of self-help, democracy, equity and solidarity, can only succeed when members are adequately educated and equipped with the necessary skills.
"Without adequate education, cooperative societies cannot effectively fulfil their mandate of empowering members, creating wealth, generating employment and contributing meaningfully to national development," he said.
The provost noted that cooperative education develops leadership capacity, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and governance competence among members, enabling them to establish and sustain successful cooperative enterprises.
He added that cooperative education promotes entrepreneurship, strengthens agricultural value chains, supports access to finance and enhances community resilience, thereby contributing to national development and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Mohammed reaffirmed the college's commitment to producing skilled cooperative professionals, entrepreneurs and development practitioners capable of driving the transformation of the cooperative sector.
He urged participants to actively engage in discussions and explore innovative approaches that would strengthen cooperative education and expand its contribution to sustainable national development.
The summit attracted government officials, development partners, academics, researchers and cooperative leaders from across the country and is expected to generate policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Nigeria's cooperative movement and promoting inclusive economic growth.