Abuja – The National Cooperative Agency of Nigeria (CFAN) has concluded plans to hold a conference to deliberate on the growth and development of cooperatives in the country, an official said.
The President of CFAN, Mr Adebola Orolugbagbe, who made the plan known to newsmen in Abuja on Friday, said the conference would hold in Asaba from Aug. 11 to Aug. 13.
He gave the theme of the conference as, “Wealth Creation, Tackling Poverty in Nigeria Using the Cooperative Module’’.
Orolugbagbe said the conference would be held in collaboration with Delta State Cooperative Financing Agency (DAFA) and would be open to all co-operators, government and development partners.
He said the purpose of the conference was to bring stakeholders together to deliberate on issues that affected the sector.
“It is meant to showcase to the world, the strength of the cooperative enterprise in Nigeria which is estimated to be in excess of one trillion naira.
“It is to build the capacity of members and stakeholders in the cooperatives in Nigeria.
“It will also enable the movement to forge ahead in the efforts of the leadership of the cooperatives in order to restructure how cooperative business is conducted in Nigeria,’’ he said.
The president said the purpose of the conference was to provide members access to finance through the MSME development fund and establishment of the national cooperative development fund.
“It is aimed at building the capacity of co-operators towards cooperative finance, improved regulations and cooperate governance for cooperative society as well as strengthen the apex institution to deliver on its mandate.
Orolugbagbe said the essence of the agency was to create a cooperative platform that would enable cooperative societies in Nigeria to have access to finance.
He said it was also aimed at providing avenue that would enable members to lend and borrow money on the same platform across states.
He, however, called on the Federal Government to upgrade the Department of Cooperatives to a rural development agency or commission to deliver on its statutory mandate. (NAN)